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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



SELECTIONS 



FROM THE 



LATIN POETS, 



CATULLUS, LUCRETIUS, TIBULLUS, PROPERTIUS, 
OVID, AND LUCAN. 



EDITED BY 
/ 

E. P. CROWELL, 

MOORE PROFESSOR OF LATIN IN AMHERST COLLEGE. 




BOSTON: 

PUBLISHED BY GINN, HEATH, & CO. 

1882. 



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Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1880, by 

E. P. Crowell, 
in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 



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Ginn & Heath: 

J. S. Cushing, Printer, 16 Hawley Street, 

Boston. 



PREFACE. 



THE design of this series of selections from the Ciceronian 
poets Catullus and Lucretius, the elegiac writers of the 
Augustan age, and the epic poet Lucan, is to bring together in 
convenient form such portions of their writings as may be most 
profitable for study in a college course. 

These selections are not only free from all impurity of senti- 
ment, but they are among the choicest and best productions of 
their respective authors, and may thus be of service also as an 
introduction to a critical study of the complete works of these 
poets, and in the study of the history of Roman literature. 

The text adopted for Catullus is that of R. Ellis (Oxford, 
1867); for Lucretius that of H. A. J. Munro (Cambridge, 
1873) 1 for Tibullus that of Rossbach, for Propertius that of 
Keil, and for Ovid that of Merkel (in the Teubner series of 
Latin texts) ; and for Lucan the text of that author in the 
Tauchnitz series. In a few instances the reading of some other 
editor has been substituted, and due mention of the change 
made in the notes. To these selections have been added a 
brief notice of the life and writings of each author and such 
explanatory notes as it was judged might be required for the 
pupil, without relieving him of the necessity of an independent 
and thorough study of the text itself. 

The sources from which these explanations and comments 
have been chiefly derived are indicated in the notes themselves, 



iv Preface. 

and in the list of commentaries and other works given in the 
Appendix. 

Occasionally in the case of obscure passages different inter- 
pretations have been given without deciding between them, 
partly because there was good ground for a difference of 
opinion, and partly for the purpose of exercising the pupil's 
judgment. 

References in the notes to any of the poems in this edition 
are made to the number of the " Selection " ; but references to 
other poems of these authors are made to the Book, poem, and 
line of their complete works. 

Amherst College, March, 1882. 



CATULLI CARMINA SELECTA. 



QUO I dono lepidum novum libellum 
arido modo pumice expolitum? 
Corneli, tibi : namque tu solebas 
meas esse aliquid putare nugas ; 
iam turn cum ausus es unus Italorum 
omne aevum tribus explicare chartis 
doctis, Iuppiter, et laboriosis. 
Quare habe tibi quicquid hoc libelli 
qualecumque ; quod o patrona virgo, 
plus uno maneat perenne saeclo. 

«• (3-) 

Lugete, o Veneres Cupidinesque, 
et quantum est hominum venustiorum. 
Passer mortuus est meae puellae, 
passer, deliciae meae puellae, 
quern plus ilia oculis suis amabat : 
nam mellitus erat suamque norat 
ipsam tarn bene quam puella matrem. 
Nee sese a gremio illius movebat, 
sed circumsiliens modo hue modo illuc 
ad solam dominam usque pipilabat. 
Qui nunc it per iter tenebricosum 
illuc, unde negant redire quemquam. 
At vobis male sit, make tenebrae 
i 



Catulli Carmina. [in. 

Orci, quae omnia bella devoratis : 

tarn bellum mihi passerem abstulistis. 15 

Vae factum male ! vae miselle passer, 

tua nunc opera meae puellae 

flendo turgiduli rubent ocelli. 

in. ( 4 .) 

Phaselus ille, quern videtis, hospites, 

ait fuisse n avium celerrimus, 

neque ullius natantis impetum trabis 

nequisse praeterire, sive palmulis 

opus foret volare sive linteo. 5 

Et hoc negat minacis Adriatici 

negare litus insulasve Cycladas 

Rhodumque nobilem horridamque Thraciam, 

Propontida trucemve Ponticum sinum, 

ubi iste post phaselus antea fuit 10 

comata silva : nam Cytorio in iugo 

loquente saepe sibilum edidit coma. 

Amastri Pontica et Cytore buxifer, 

tibi haec fuisse et esse cognitissima 

ait phaselus : ultima ex origine *5 

tuo stetisse dicit in cacumine, 

tuo imbuisse palmulas in aequore, 

et inde tot per impotentia freta 

herum tulisse, laeva sive dextera 

vocaret aura, sive utrumque Iuppiter 20 

simul secundus incidisset in pedem ; 

neque ulla vota litoralibus deis 

sibi esse facta, cum veniret a mari 

novissimo hunc ad usque limpidum lacum. 

Sed haec prius fuere : nunc recondita 2 5 

senet quiete seque dedicat tibi, 

gemelle Castor et gemelle Castoris. 



iv. v.] Catulli Carmina. 3 

IV. (9.) 

Verani, omnibus e meis amicis 

antistans mihi milibus trecentis, 

venistine do mum ad tuos Penates 

fratresque unanimos anumque matrem? 

Venisti. O mihi nuntii beati ! 5 

Visam te incolumem audiamque Hiberum 

narrantem loca, facta, nationes, 

ut mos est tuus, applicansque collum 

iocundum os oculosque saviabor. 

O quantum est hominum beatiorum, 10 

quid me laetius est beatiusve ? 

V. (11.) 

Furi et Aureli, comites Catulli, 
sive in extremos penetrabit Indos, 
litus ut longe resonante Eoa 

tunditur unda, 
sive in Hyrcanos Arabesque molles, 5 

seu Sacas sagittiferosque Parthos, 
sive quae septemgeminus colorat 

aequora Nilus, 
sive trans altas gradietur Alpes, 
Caesaris visens monimenta magni, IO 

Gallicum Rhenum horribilem insulam ulti- 

mosque Britannos, 
omnia haec, quaecumque feret voluntas 
caelitum, tentare simul parati, 
pauca nuntiate meae puellae *5 

non bona dicta. 

■Jfc % * yfc vk w 

Nec meum respectet, ut ante, amorem, 
qui illius culpa cecidit velut prati 
ultimi flos, praetereunte postquam 

tactus aratro est. 20 (24) 



Catulli Carmina. [vi. vn. 



VI. (22.) 

Suffenus iste, Vare, quern probe nosti, 

homo est venustus et dicax et urbanus, 

idemque longe plurimos facit versus. 

Puto esse ego illi milia aut decern aut plura 

perscripta, nee sic ut fit in palimpsesto 5 

relata : chartae regiae, novi libri, 

novi umbilici, lora rubra, membrana 

derecta plumbo, et pumice omnia aequata. 

Haec cum legas tu, bellus ille et urbanus 

Suffenus unus caprimulgus aut fossor 10 

rursus videtur : tantum abhorret ac mutat. 

Hoc quid putemus esse ? qui modo scurra 

aut siquid hac re tritius videbatur, 

idem infaceto est infacetior rure, 

simul poemata attigit, neque idem umquam *5 

aeque est beatus ac poema cum scribit : 

tarn gaudet in se tamque se ipse miratur. 

Nimirum idem omnis fallimur, neque est quisquam, 

quern non in aliqua re videre Suffenum 

possis. Suus cuique attributus est error : 20 

sed non videmus manticae quod in tergo est. 

VII. (31.) 

Paene insularum, Sirmio, insularumque 

ocelle, quascumque in liquentibus stagnis 

marique vasto fert uterque Neptunus ; 

quam te libenter quamque laetus inviso, 

vix mi ipse credens Thuniam atque Bithunos 5 

liquisse campos et videre te in tuto. 

O quid solutis est beatius curis? 

cum mens onus reponit, ac peregrino 



viii.] Catulli Carmina. 

labore fessi venimus larem ad nostrum, 
desideratoque acquiescimus lecto. 
Hoc est quod unum est pro laboribus tantis. 
Salve o venusta Sirmio atque hero gaude ; 
gaudete vosque o Lydiae lacus undae ; 
ridete quicquid est domi cachinnorum. 



VIII. (34-) 

Dianae sumus in fide 
puellae et pueri integri : 
Dianam pueri integri 

puellaeque canamus. 
O Latonia, maximi 
magna progenies Iovis, 
quam mater prope Deliam 

deposivit olivam, 
montium domina ut fores 
silvarumque virentium 
saltuumque reconditorum 

amniumque sonantum. 
Tu Lucina dolentibus 
Iuno dicta puerperis, 
tu potens trivia et notho es x 5 

dicta lumine Luna. 
Tu cursu, dea, menstruo 
metiens iter annuum, 
rustica agricolae bonis 

tecta frugibus exples. 2 ° 

Sis quocumque tibi placet 
sancta nomine, Romulique 
antique ut solita es bona 

sospites ope gentem. 



/ 



Catulli Carmina. [ix. x. 

IX. (44.) 

O funde noster seu Sabine seu Tiburs, 

(nam te esse Tiburtem autumant, quibus non est 

cordi Catullum laedere : at quibus cordi est, 

quovis Sabinum pignore esse contendunt) 

sed seu Sabine sive verius Tiburs, 5 

fui libenter in tua suburbana 

villa, malamque pectore expui tussim, 

non inmerenti quam mihi meus venter, 

dum sumptuosas appeto, dedit, cenas. 

Nam, Sestianus dum volo esse conviva, IO 

orationem in Antium petitorem 

plenam veneni et pestilentiae legi. 

Hie me gravido frigida et frequens tussis 

quassavit usque dum in tuum sinum fugi, 

et me recuravi otioque et urtica. X S 

Quare refectus maximas tibi grates 

ago, meum quod non es ulta peccatum. 

Nee deprecor iam, si nefaria scripta 

Sesti recepso, quin gravedinem et tussim 

non mihi, sed ipsi Sestio ferat frigus, 2° 

qui tunc vocat me, cum malum librum legi. 

X. (46.) 

Iam ver egelidos refert tepores, 

iam caeli furor aequinoctialis 

iocundis Zephyri silescit aureis. 

Linquantur Phrygii, Catulle, campi 

Nicaeaeque ager uber aestuosae : 5 

ad claras Asiae volemus urbes. 

Iam mens praetrepidans avet vagari, 

iam laeti studio pedes vigescunt. 



xi. xii.] Catulli Carmina. 

O dulces comitum valete coetus, 
longe quos simul a domo profectos 
diversae variae viae reportant. 



XL (49.) 

Disertissime Romuli nepotum, 

quot sunt quotque fuere, Marce Tulli, 

quotque post aliis erunt in annis, 

gratias tibi maximas Catullus 

agit pessimus omnium poeta, 5 

tanto pessimus omnium poeta, 

quanto tu optimus omnium patronus. 

XII. (50.) 

Hesterno, Lucini, die otiosi 

multum lusimus in meis tabellis, 

ut convenerat esse delicatos. 

Scribens versiculos uterque nostrum 

ludebat numero modo hoc modo illoc, 5 

reddens mutua per iocum atque vinum. 

Atque illinc abii tuo lepore 

incensus, Lucini, facetiisque, 

ut nee me miserum cibus iuvaret, 

nee somnus tegeret quiete ocellos, IO 

sed toto indomitus furore lecto 

versarer, cupiens videre lucem, 

ut tecum loquerer, simulque ut essem. 

At defessa labore membra postquam 

semimortua lectulo iacebant, J S 

hoc, iocunde, tibi poema feci, 

ex quo perspiceres meum dolorem. 

Nunc audax cave sis, precesque nostras, 



Catulli Carmina. [xin. 

oramus, cave despuas, ocelle, 

ne poenas Nemesis reposcat a te. 20 

Est vehemens dea : laedere hanc caveto. 



XIII. (64.) 

Peliaco quondam prognatae vertice pinus 

dicuntur liquidas Neptuni nasse per undas 

Phasidos ad fluctus et fines Aeetaeos, 

cum lecti iuvenes, Argivae robora pubis, 

auratam optantes Colchis avertere pellem 5 

ausi sunt vada salsa cita decurrere puppi, 

caerula verrentes abiegnis aequora palmis. 

Diva quibus retinens in summis urbibus arces 

ipsa levi fecit volitantem flamine currum, 

pinea coniungens inflexae texta carinae. I0 

Ilia rudem cursu prima imbuit Amphitriten ; 

quae simul ac rostro ventosum proscidit aequor, 

tortaque remigio spumis incanduit unda, 

emersere feri candenti e gurgite vultus 

aequoreae monstrum Nereides admirantes. *5 

Ilia, atque haud alia, viderunt luce marinas 

mortales oculis nudato corpore Nymphas 

nutricum tenus extantes e gurgite cano. 

Turn Thetidis Peleus incensus fertur amore, 

turn Thetis humanos non despexit hymenaeos, 2 ° 

turn Thetidi pater ipse iugandum Pelea sensit. 

O nimis optato saeclorum tempore nati 

heroes, salvete, deum genus ! o bona mater ! 

vos ego saepe meo vos carmine compellabo. 

Teque adeo eximie taedis felicibus aucte 2 5 

Thessaliae columen Peleu, cui Iuppiter ipse, 

ipse suos divum genitor concessit amores. 

Tene Thetis tenuit pulcherrima Neptunine ? 



xiii.] Catulli Carmina. 9 

Tene suam Tethys concessit ducere neptem, 

Oceanusque, mari totum qui amplectitur orbem ? 3° 

Quae simul optato finitae tempore luces 

advenere, domum conventu tota frequentat 

Thessalia, oppletur laetanti regia coetu : 

dona ferunt prae se, declarant gaudia vultu. 

Deseritur Scyros, linquunt Phthiotica Tempe, 35 

Crannonisque domos ac moenia Larisaea, 

Pharsaliam coeunt, Pharsalia tecta frequentant. • 

Rura colit nemo, mollescunt colla iuvencis, 

non humilis curvis purgatur vinea rastris, 

non glebam prono convellit vomere taurus, 4° 

non falx attenuat frondatorum arboris umbram, 

squalida desertis rubigo infertur aratris. 

Ipsius at sedes, quacumque opulenta recessit 

regia, fulgenti splendent auro atque argento. 

Candet ebur soliis, collucent pocula mensae, 45 

tota domus gaudet regali splendida gaza. 

Pulvinar vero divae geniale locatur 

sedibus in mediis, Indo quod dente politum 

tincta tegit roseo conchyli purpura fuco. 

Haec vestis priscis hominum variatur jiguris 5° 

heroum mira virtutes indicat arte. 

Namque fluentisono prospectans litore Diae, 

Thesea cedentem celeri cum classe tuetur 

indomitos in corde gerens Ariadna furores, 

necdum etiam sese quae visit visere credit, 55 

ut pote fallaci quae turn primum excita somno 

desertam in sola miseram se cernat harena. 

Inmemor at iuvenis fugiens pellit vada remis, 

irrita ventosae linquens promissa procellae. 

Quern procul ex alga maestis Minois ocellis, 6o 

saxea ut effigies bacchantis, prospicit, eheu, 

prospicit et magnis curarum fluctuat undis, 

non flavo retinens subtilem vertice mitram, 



10 Catulli Carmina. [xin. 

non contecta levi velatum pectus amictu, 
non tereti strophio lactentis vincta papillas, 6 5 

omnia quae toto delapsa e corpore passim 
ipsius ante pedes fluctus salis alludebant. 
Sed neque turn mitrae neque turn fluitantis amictus 
ilia vicem curans,toto ex te pectore, Theseu, 
toto animo, tota pendebat perdita mente. 7° 

Ah mis era, assiduis quam luctibus externavit 
• spinosas Erycina serens in pectore curas, 
ilia tempestate, ferox quo ex tempore Theseus 
egressus curvis e litoribus Piraei 

attigit iniusti regis Cortynia templa. 75 

Nam perhibent olim crudeli peste coactam 
Androgeoneae poenas exolvere caedis 
electos iuvenes simul et decus innuptarum 
Cecropiam solitam esse dapem dare Minotauro. 
Quis angusta malis cum moenia vexarentur, 8o 

ipse suum Theseus pro caris corpus Athenis 
proicere optavit potius quam talia Cretam 
funera Cecropiae nee funera portarentur, 
atque ita nave levi nitens ac lenibus auris 
magnanimum ad Minoa venit sedesque superbas. 8 5 

Hunc simul ac cupido conspexit Jumine virgo 
regia, quam suavis expirans castus odores 
lectulus in molli complexu matris alebat, 
quales Eurotae progignunt flumina myrtus, 
aurave distinctos educit verna colores, 9° 

non prius ex illo flagrantia declinavit 
lumina, quam cuncto concepit corpore flammam 
funditus atque imis exarsit tota medullis. 
Heu misere exagitans inmiti corde furores 
sancte puer, curis hominum qui gaudia misces, 95 

quaeque regis Golgos quaeque Idalium frondosum, 
qualibus incensam iactastis mente puellam 
fluctibus, in flavo saepe hospite suspirantem ! 



xiii.] Catitlli Carmina. II 

quantos ilia tulit languenti corde timores ! 

quanto saepe magis fulgore expalluit auri ! 100 

cum saevum cupiens contra contendere monstrum 

aut mortem oppeteret Theseus aut praemia laudis. 

Non ingrata tamen frustra munuscula divis 

promittens tacito succendit vota labello. 

Nam velut in summo quatientem brachia Tauro io 5 

quercum, aut conigeram sudanti cortice pinum, 

indomitus turbo contorquens flamine robur 

eruit (ilia procul radicitus exturbata 

prona cadit, lateque et cominus obvia frangens), 

sic domito saevum prostravit corpore Theseus IIQ 

nequicquam vanis iactantem cornua ventis. 

Inde pedem sospes multa cum laude reflexit 

errabunda regens tenui vestigia filo, 

ne labyrintheis e flexibus egredientem 

tecti frustraretur inobservabilis error. IJ S 

Sed quid ego a primo digressus carmine plura 

commemorem, ut linquens genitoris filia vultum, 

ut consanguineae complexum, ut denique matris, 

quae misera in gnata deperdita lamentata est, 

omnibus his Thesei dulcem praeoptarit amorem, I20 

aut ut vecta ratis spumosa ad litora Diae, 

aut ut earn devinctam lumina somno 

liquerit inmemori discedens pectore coniunx? 

Saepe illam perhibent ardenti corde furentem 

clarisonas imo fudisse e pectore voces, I2 5 

ac turn praeruptos tristem conscendere montes, 

unde aciem in pelagi vastos protenderet aestus, 

turn tremuli salis adversas procurrere in undas 

mollia nudatae tollentem tegmina surae, 

atque haec extremis maestam dixisse querellis, J 3° 

frigidulos udo singultus ore cientem. 

' Siccine me patriis avectam, perfide, ab aris, 

perfide, deserto liquisti in litore, Theseu? 



12 Catulli Carrnina. [xin. 

Siccine discedens neglecto numine divum, 

inmemor ah devota domum periuria portas? J 35 

Nullane res potuit crudelis flectere mentis 

consilium ? tibi nulla fuit dementia praesto, 

inmite ut nostri vellet miserescere pectus ? 

At non haec quondam nobis promissa dedisti 

voce : mihi non haec miserae sperare iubebas, x 4° 

sed connubia laeta, sed optatos hymenaeos, 

quae cuncta aerei discerpunt irrita venti. 

Turn iam nulla viro iuranti femina credat, 

nulla viri speret sermones esse fideles ; 

quis dum aliquid cupiens animus praegestit apisci, *45 

nil metuunt iurare, nihil promittere parcunt : 

sed simul ac cupidae mentis satiata libido est, 

dicta nihil metuere, nihil periuria curant. 

Certe ego te in medio versantem turbine leti 

eripui, et potius germanum amittere crevi, *5<> 

quam tibi fallaci supremo in tempore deessem. 

Pro quo dilaceranda feris dabor alitibusque 

praeda, neque iniacta tumulabor mortua terra. 

Quaenam te genuit sola sub rupe leaena, 

quod mare conceptum spumantibus expuit undis, *55 

quae Syrtis, quae Scylla rapax, quae vasta Carybdis, 

talia qui reddis pro dulci praemia vita? 

Si tibi non cordi fuerant connubia nostra, 

saeva quod horrebas prisci praecepta parentis, 

at tamen in vestras potuisti ducere sedes, 160 

quae tibi iocundo famularer serva labore, 

Candida permulcens liquidis vestigia lymphis, 

purpureave tuum consternens veste cubile. 

Sed quid ego ignaris nequicquam conquerar auris, 

externata malo, quae nullis sensibus auctae l6 5 

nee missas audire queunt nee reddere voces? 

Ille autem prope iam mediis versatur in undis, 

nee quisquam apparet vacua mortalis in alga. 



xiil] Catulli Carmina, 13 

Sic nimis insultans extreme- tempore saeva 

fors etiam nostris invidit questibus auris. J 7° 

Iuppiter omnipotens, utinam ne tempore primo 

Gnosia Cecropiae tetigissent litora puppes, 

indomito nee dira ferens stipendia tauro, 

perfidus in Creta religasset navita funem, 

nee malus hie celans dulci crudelia forma x 75 

concilia in nostris requiesset sedibus hospes ! 

Nam quo me referam? quali spe perdita nitor? 

Idomeneosne petam montes ? a gurgite lato 

discernens ponti truculentum dividit aequor. 

An patris auxilium sperem ? quemne ipsa reliqui 180 

respersum iuvenem fraterna caede secuta? 

coniugis an fido consoler memet amore ? 

quine fugit lentos incurvans gurgite remos ? 

praeterea nullo litus, sola insula, tecto, 

nee patet egressus pelagi cingentibus undis : l8 5 

nulla fugae ratio, nulla spes : omnia muta, 

omnia sunt deserta, ostentant omnia letum. 

Non tamen ante mihi languescent lumina morte, 

nee prius a fesso secedent corpore sensus, 

quam iustam a divis exposcam prodita mulctam, I9Q 

caelestumque fidem postrema comprecer hora. 

Quare facta virum mulctantes vindice poena, 

Eumenides, quibus anguino redimita capillo 

frons expirantis praeportat pectoris iras, 

hue hue adventate, meas audite querellas, *95 

quas ego, vae miserae, extremis proferre medullis 

cogor inops, ardens, amenti caeca furore. 

Quae quoniam verae nascuntur pectore ab imo, 

vos nolite pati nostrum vanescere luctum, 

sed quali solam Theseus me mente reliquit, 200 

tali mente, deae, funestet seque suosque.' 

Has postquam maesto profudit pectore voces, 

supplicium saevis exposcens anxia factis, 



14 Catulli Carmina. [xni. 

annuit invicto caelestum numine rector, 

quo mctu tellus atque horrida contremuere 2 °5 

aequora concussitque micantia sidera mundus. 

Ipse autem caeca mentem caligine Theseus 

consitus oblito dimisit pectore cuncta, 

quae mandata prius constanti mente tenebat, 

dulcia nee maesto sustollens signa parenti 2 io 

sospitem Erechtheum se ostendit visere portum. 

Namque ferunt olim, classi cum moenia divae 

linquentem gnatum ventis concrederet Aegeus, 

talia complexum iuveni mandata dedisse. 

* Gnate mihi lo'nga iocundior unice vita, 2I 5 

gnate, ego quern in dubios cogor dimittere casus, 

reddite in extrema nuper mihi fine senectae, 

quandoquidem fortuna mea ac tua fervida virtus 

eripit invito mihi te, cui languida nondum 

lumina sunt gnati cara saturata figura, 220 

non ego te gaudens laetanti pectore mittam, 

nee te ferre sinam fortunae signa secundae, 

sed primum multas expromam mente querellas, 

canitiem terra atque infuso pulvere foedans, 

inde infecta vago suspendam lintea malo, 22 5 

nostros ut luctus nostraeque incendia mentis 

carbasus obscurata dicet ferrugine Hibera. 

Quod tibi si sancti concesserit incola Itoni, 

quae nostrum genus ac sedes defendere Erechthi 

annuit, ut tauri respergas sanguine dextram, 2 3° 

turn vero facito ut memori tibi condita corde 

haec vigeant mandata, nee ulla oblitteret aetas ; 

ut simul ac nostros invisent lumina collis, 

funestam antennae deponant undique vestem, 

candidaque intorti sustollant vela rudentes, 2 35 

quam primum cernens ut laeta gaudia mente 

agnoscam, cum te reducem aetas prospera sistet.' 

Haec mandata prius constanti mente tenentem 



xni.] Catiilli Carmina. 15 

Thesea ceu pulsae ventorum flamine nubes 

aereum nivei montis liquere cacumen. 2 4° 

At pater, ut summa prospectum ex arce petebat, 

anxia in assiduos absumens lumina fletus, 

cum primum inflati conspexit lintea veli, 

praecipitem sese scopulorum e vertice iecit, 

amissum credens inmiti Thesea fato. 245 

Sic funesta domus ingressus tecta paterna 

morte ferox Theseus qualem Minoidi luctum 

obtulerat mente inmemori talem ipse recepit. 

Quae tamen aspectans cedentem maesta carinam 

multiplices animo volvebat saucia curas. 2 5° 

At parte ex alia florens volitabat Iacchus 

cum thiaso Satyrorum et Nysigenis Silenis, 

te quaerens, Ariadna, tuoque incensus amore". 

Qui turn alacres passim lymphata mente furebant 

evohe bacchantes, evohe capita infiectentes. 2 55 

Harum pars tecta quatiebant cuspide thyrsos, 

pars e divulso iactabant membra iuvenco, 

pars sese tortis serpentibus incingebant, 

pars obscura cavis celebrabant orgia cistis, 

orgia, quae frustra cupiunt audire profani, 26 ° 

plangebant aliae proceris tympana palmis, 

aut tereti tenuis tinnitus aere ciebant, 

multis raucisonos efflabant cornua bombos 

barbaraque horribili stridebat tibia cantu. 

Talibus amplifice vestis decorata figuris 26 5 

pulvinar complexa suo velabat amictu. 

Quae postquam cupide spectando Thessala pubes 

expleta est, Sanctis coepit decedere divis. 

Hie, qualis rlatu placidum mare matutino 

horrificans Zeph)Tus proclivas incitat undas, 2 7<> 

Aurora exoriente vagi sub limina Solis, 

quare tarde primum dementi flamine pulsae 

procedunt, leviter resonant plangore cachinni, 



1 6 Catulli Carmina. [xm. 

post vento crescente magis magis increbescunt, 

purpureaque procul nantes ab luce refulgent ; 2 75 

sic turn vestibuli linquentis regia tecta 

at se quisque vago passim pede discedebant. 

Quorum post abitum princeps e vertice Pelei 

advenit Chiron portans silvestria dona : 

nam quodcumque ferunt campi, quos Thessala magnis 280 

montibus ora creat, quos propter fluminis undas 

aura parit flores tepidi fecunda Favoni, 

hos indistinctis plexos tulit ipse corollis, 

quo permulsa domus iocundo risit odore. 

Confestim Penios adest, viridantia Tempe, 28 5 

Tempe, quae silvae cingunt super impendentes, 

Magnessum linquens Doris celebranda choreis, 

non vacuos : namque ille tulit radicitus altas 

fagos ac recto proceras stipite laurus, 

non sine nutanti platano lentaque sorore 2 9° 

flammati Phaethontis et aerea cupressu. 

Haec circum sedes late contexta locavit, 

vestibulum ut molli velatum fronde vireret. 

Post hunc consequitur sollerti corde Prometheus, 

extenuata gerens veteris vestigia poenae, 2 9S 

quam quondam silici restrictus membra catena 

persolvit pendens e verticibus praeruptis. 

Inde pater divum sancta cum coniuge natisque 

advenit caelo, te solum, Phoebe, relinquens, 

unigenamque simul cultricem montibus Idri : 3°o 

Pelea nam tecum pariter soror aspernata est, 

nee Thetidis taedas voluit celebrare iugalis. 

Qui postquam niveis flexerunt sedibus artus, 

large multiplici constructae sunt dape mensae, 

cum interea infirmo quatientes corpora motu 3°5 

veridicos Parcae coeperunt edere cantus. 

His corpus tremulum complectens undique vestis 

Candida purpurea talos incinxerat ora, 



xiii.] Catulli Carmina. ly 

at roseo niveae residebant vertice vittae, 

aeternumque manus carpebant rite laborem. 3 IQ 

Laeva colum molli lana retinebat amictum, 

dextera turn leviter deducens fila supinis 

formabat digitis, turn prono in pollice torquens 

libratum tereti versabat turbine fusum, 

atque ita decerpens aequabat semper opus dens, 3 X 5 

laneaque aridulis haerebant morsa labellis, 

quae prius in levi fuerant extantia filo : 

ante pedes autem candentis mollia lanae 

vellera virgati custodibant calathisci. 

Haec turn clarisona pellentes vellera voce 3 2 ° 

talia divino fuderunt carmine fata, 

carmine, perfidiae quod post nulla arguet aetas. 

O decus eximium magnis virtutibus augens, 
Emathiae tutamen opis, clarissime nato, 
accipe, quod laeta tibi pandunt luce sorores, 3 2 5 

veridicum oraclum : sed vos, quae fata sequuntur, 

currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi. 

Adveniet tibi iam portans optata maritis 

Hesperus, adveniet fausto cum sidere coniunx 
quae tibi flexanimo mentis perfundat amorem, 33° 

languidulosque paret tecum coniungere somnos, 
levia substernens robusto brachia collo. 

Currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi. 

Nulla domus tales umquam contexit amores, 

nullus amor tali coniunxit foedere amantes, 335 

qualis adest Thetidi, qualis concordia Peleo. 

Currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi. 

Nascetur vobis expers terroris Achilles, 

hostibus haud tergo, sed forti pectore notus, 



1 8 Catulli Carmina. [xin. 

qui persaepe vago victor certamine cursus 34° 

fiammea praevertet celeris vestigia cervae. 
Currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi. 

Non illi quisquam bello se conferet heros, 

cum Phrygii Teucro manabunt sanguine campi 
Troicaque obsidens longinquo moenia bello 345 

periuri Pelopis vastabit tertius heres. 

Currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi. 

Illius egregias virtutes claraque facta 

saepe fatebuntur gnatorum in funere matres, 

cum incurvo canos solvent a vertice crines, 35° 

putridaque infirmis variabunt pectora palmis. 

Currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi. 

Namque velut densas praecerpens cultor aristas 
sole sub ardenti flaventia demetit arva, 
Troiugenum infesto prosternens corpora ferro 355 



Currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi. 

Testis erit magnis virtutibus unda Scamandri, 
quae passim rapido diffunditur Hellespbnto, 
cuius iter caesis angustans corporum acervis 
alta tepefaciet permixta flumina caede. 3 60 

Currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi. 

Denique testis erit morti quoque reddita praeda, 
cum teres excelso coacervatum aggere bustum 
excipiet niveos perculsae virginis artus. 

Currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi. 3 6 5 

Nam simul ac fessis dederit fors copiam Achivis 
urbis Dardaniae Neptunia solvere vincla, 
alta Polyxenia madefient caede sepulcra, 



xiii.] Catulli Carmina, 19 

quae, velut ancipiti succumbens victima ferro, 
proiciet truncum summisso poplite corpus. 37° 

Currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi. 

Quare agite optatos animi coniungite amores. 
Accipiat coniunx felici foedere divam, 
dedatur cupido iam dudum nupta marito. 

Currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi. 375 

Non illam nutrix orienti luce re.visens 

hesterno collum poterit circumdare filo. 
Currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi. 

Anxia nee mater discordis maesta puellae 

secubitu caros mittet sperare nepotes. 3 8 ° 

Currite ducentes subtegmina, currite, fusi. 

Talia praefantes quondam felicia Pelei 

carmina divino cecinerunt pectore Parcae. 

Praesentes namque ante domos invisere castas 

heroum, et sese mortali ostendere coetu, 3 8 5 

caelicolae nondum spreta pietate solebant. 

Saepe pater divum templo in fulgente revisens, 

annua cum festis venissent sacra diebus, 

conspexit terra centum procumbere tauros. 

Saepe vagus Liber Parnasi vertice summo 39° 

Thyadas effusis evantis crinibus egit, 

cum Delphi tota certatim ex urbe ruentes 

acciperent laeti divum fumantibus aris. 

Saepe in letifero belli certamine Mavors 

aut rapidi Tritonis hera aut Ramnusia virgo 395 

armatas hominum est praesens hortata catervas. 

Sed postquam tellus scelere est imbuta nefando, 

iustitiamque omnes cupida de mente fugarunt, 

perfudere manus fraterno sanguine fratres, 

destitit extinctos natus lugere parentes, 4°° 



20 Catulli Carmina. [xrv. 

optavit genitor primaevi funera nati, 

liber ut innuptae poteretur flore novercae, 

ignaro mater substernens se impia nato 

impia non verita est divos scelerare parentes, 

omnia fanda nefanda malo permixta furore 4°5 

iustificam nobis mentem avertere deorum. 

Quare nee talis dignantur visere coetus, 

nee se contingi patiuntur lumine claro. 

XIV. (65.) 

Etsi me assiduo confectum cura dolore 

sevocat a doctis, Ortale, virginibus, 
nee potis est dulcis Musarum expromere fetus 

mens animi, tantis fluctuat ipsa malis : 
namque mei nuper Lethaeo in gurgite fratris 5 

pallidulum manans alluit unda pedem, 
Troia Rhoeteo quern subter litore tellus 

ereptum nostris obterit ex oculis. 
Alloquar, audiero numquam tua loquentem, 

numquam ego te, vita frater amabilior, IO 

aspiciam posthac ? at certe semper amabo, 

semper maesta tua carmina morte tegam, 
qualia sub densis ramorum concinit umbris 

Daulias, absumpti fata gemens Itylei. 
Sed tamen in tantis maeroribus, Ortale, mitto J 5 

haec expressa tibi carmina Battiadae, 
ne tua dicta vagis nequicquam credita ventis 

effluxisse meo forte putes animo. 
Ut missum sponsi furtivo munere malum 

procurrit casto virginis e gremio, 20 

quod miserae oblitae molli sub veste locatum, 

dum adventu matris prosilit, excutitur : 
atque illud prono praeceps agitur decursu, 

huic manat tristi conscius ore rubor. 



xv. xvi.] Catulli Carmina. 21 

XV. (96.) 

Si quicquam mutis gratum acceptumve sepulcris 
accidere a nostro, Calve, dolore potest, 

quo desiderio veteres renovamus amores 
atque olim missas flemus amicitias, 

certe non tanto mors immatura dolori est 5 

Quintiliae, quantum gaudet amore tuo. 

XVI. (101.) 

Multas per gentes et multa per aequora vectus 

advenio has miseras, frater, ad inferias, 
ut te postremo donarem munere mortis 

et mutam nequicquam alloquerer cinerem. 
Quandoquidem fortuna mihi tete abstulit ipsum, 5 

heu miser indigne frater adempte mihi, 
nunc tamen interea haec prisco quae more parentum 

tradita sunt tristi munere ad inferias, 
accipe fraterno multum manantia fletu, 

atque in perpetuum, frater, ave atque vale. IO 



T. LUCRETI CARI 
DE RERUM NATURA. 

LIBER PRIMUS. 

AENEADUM genetrix, hominum divomque voluptas, 
alma Venus, caeli subter labentia signa 
quae mare navigerum, quae terras frugiferentis 
concelebras, per te quoniam genus omne animantum 
concipitur visitque exortum, lumina solis : 5 

te, dea, te fugiunt venti, te nubila caeli 
adventumque tuum, tibi suavis daedala tellus 
summittit flores, tibi rident aequora ponti 
placatumque nitet diffuso lumine caelum. 
Quae quoniam rerum naturam sola gubernas IO 

nee sine te quicquam dias in luminis oras 
exoritur neque fit laetum neque amabile quicquam, 
te sociam studeo scribendis versibus esse 
quos ego de rerum natura pangere conor ( 2 5) 

Memmiadae nostro, quern tu, dea, tempore in omni 15 
omnibus ornatum voluisti excellere rebus. 
Quo magis aeternum da dictis, diva, leporem. 

Quod superest, vacuas auris animumque sagacem (50) 
semotum a curis adhibe veram ad rationem, 
ne mea dona tibi studio disposta fideli, 20 

intellecta prius quam sint, contempta relinquas. 
Nam tibi de summa caeli ratione deumque 
disserere incipiam et rerum primordia pandam, (55) 

23 



24 De Rerum Natura. 

unde omnis natura creet res auctet alatque 

quove eadem rursum natura perempta resolvat, 2 5 

quae nos materiem et genitalia corpora rebus 

reddunda in ratione vocare et semina rerum 

appellare suemus et haec eadem usurpare (6°) 

corpora prima, quod ex illis sunt omnia primis. 

Humana ante oculos foede cum vita iaceret 3° 
in terris oppressa gravi sub religion e 
quae caput a caeli regionibus ostendebat 
horribili super aspectu mortalibus instans, ( 6 5) 

primum Graius homo mortalis tollere contra 
est oculos ausus primusque obsistere contra, 35 

quern neque fama deum nee fulmina nee minitanti 
murmure compressit caelum, sed eo magis acrem 
inritat animi virtutem, effringere ut arta (7°) 

naturae primus portarum claustra cupiret. 
Ergo vivida vis animi pervicit, et extra 4° 

processit longe flamman.tia moenia mundi 
atque omne immensum peragravit mente animoque, 
unde refert nobis victor quid possit oriri, (75) 

quid nequeat, fmita potestas denique cuique 
quanam sit ratione atque alte terminus haerens. 45 
Quare religio pedibus subiecta vicissim 
opteritur, nos exaequat victoria caelo. 

Illud in his rebus vereor, ne forte rearis ( 8o ) 

inpia te rationis inire elementa viamque 
indugredi sceleris, quod contra saepius ilia 5° 

religio peperit scelerosa atque impia facta. 
Aulide quo pacto Triviai virginis aram 
Iphianassai turparunt sanguine foede ( 8 5) 

ductores Danaum delecti, prima virorum. 
Cui simul infula virgineos circumdata comptus 55 
ex utraque pari malarum parte profusast, 
et maestum simul ante aras adstare parentem 
sensit et nunc propter ferrum celare ministros (9°) 



Liber Primus, 25 

aspectuque suo lacrimas effundere civis, 

muta metu terram genibus summissa petebat. 6° 

Nee miserae prodesse in tali tempore quibat 

quod patrio princeps donarat nomine regem ; 

nam sublata virum manibus tremibundaque ad aras (95) 

deductast, non ut sollemni more sacrorum 

perfecto posset claro comitari Hymenaeo, 6 S 

sed casta inceste nubendi tempore in ipso 

hostia concideret mactatu maesta parentis, 

exitus ut classi felix faustusque daretur. ( J oo) 

Tantum religio potuit suadere malorum. 

Hunc igitur terrorem animi tenebrasque necessest 
non radii solis neque lucida tela diei 7 1 

discutiant, sed naturae species ratioque. 
Principium cuius hinc nobis exordia sumet, 
nullam rem e nilo gigni divinitus umquam. (150) 

Quippe ita formido mortalis continet omnis, 75 

quod multa in terris fieri caeloque tuentur 
quorum operum causas nulla ratione videre 
possunt ac fieri divino numine rentur. 
Quas ob res ubi viderimus nil posse creari (155) 

de nilo, turn quod sequimur iam rectius inde 8 ° 

perspiciemus, et unde queat res quaeque creari 
et quo quaeque modo riant opera sine divom. 



LIBER SECUNDUS. 

Suave, mari magno turbantibus aequora ventis, 
e terra magnum alterius spectare laborem • 
non quia vexari quemquamst iucunda voluptas, 
sed quibus ipse malis careas quia cernere suave est. 
Suave etiam belli certamina magna tueri 5 



26 De Rerum Natura. 

per campos instructa tua sine parte pericli. 

Sed nil dulcius est, bene quam munita tenere 

edita, doctrina sapientum, templa serena, 

despicere unde queas alios passimque videre 

errare atque viam palantis quaerere vitae, IO 

certare ingenio, contendere nobilitate, 

noctes atque dies niti praestante labore 

ad summas emergere opes rerumque potiri. 

O miseras hominum mentes, o pectora caeca ! 

qualibus in tenebris vitae quantisque periclis *5 

degitur hoc aevi quodcumquest ! nonne videre 

nil aliud sibi naturam latrare, nisi utqui 

corpore seiunctus dolor absit, mente fruatur 

iucundo sensu cura semota metuque ? 

Ergo corpoream ad naturam pauca videmus 2 ° 

esse opus omnino, quae demant cumque dolorem. 

Delicias quoque uti multas substernere possint 

gratius interdum neque natura ipsa requirit ; 

si non aurea sunt iuvenum simulacra per aedes 

lampadas igniferas manibus retinentia dextris, 2 5 

lumina nocturnis epulis ut suppeditentur, 

nee domus argento fulget auroque renidet 

nee citharae reboant laqueata aurataque tecta, 

cum tamen inter se prostrati in gramine molli 

propter aquae rivum sub ramis arboris altae 3° 

non magnis opibus, iucunde corpora curant, 

praesertim cum tempestas adridet et anni 

tempora conspergunt viridantis floribus herbas. 

Nee calidae citius decedunt corpore febres, 

textilibus si in picturis ostroque rubenti 35 

iacteris, quam si in plebeia veste cubandum est. 

Quapropter quoniam nil nostro in corpore gazae 

proficiunt neque nobilitas nee gloria regni, 

quod superest, animo quoque nil prodesse putandum ; 

si non, forte tuas legiones per loca campi 4° 



Liber Tertius. 27 

fervere cum videas belli simulacra cientis, 

subsidiis magnis et ecum vi constabilitas, 

ornatas^z^? armis statuas pariterque animatas, 

his tibi turn rebus timefactae religiones 

effugiunt animo pavide ; mortisque timores 45 

turn vacuum pectus lincunt curaque solutum, 

fervere cum videas classem lateque vagari. 

Quod si ridicula haec ludibriaque esse videmus, 

re veraque metus hominum curaeque sequaces 

nee metuunt sonitus armorum nee fera tela 5° 

audacterque inter reges rerumque potentis 

versantur neque fulgorem reverentur ab auro 

nee clarum vestis splendorem purpureai, 

quid dubitas quin onmi* sit haec rationi' potestas ? 

omnis cum in tenebris praesertim vita laboret. 55 

Nam veluti pueri trepidant atque omnia caecis 

in tenebris metuunt, sic nos in luce timemus 

interdum, nilo quae sunt metuenda magis quam 

quae pueri in tenebris pavitant finguntque futura. 

Hunc igitur terrorem animi tenebrasque necessest 6° 

non radii solis neque lucida tela diei 

discutiant, sed naturae species ratioque. 



LIBER TERTIUS. 

E tenebris tantis tarn clarum extollere lumen 
qui primus potuisti inlustrans commoda vitae, 
te sequor, o Graiae gentis decus, inque tuis nunc 
ficta pedum pono pressis vestigia signis, 
non ita certandi cupidus quam propter amorem 
quod te imitari aveo ; quid enim contendat hirundo 
eyenis, aut quidnam tremulis facere artubus haedi 
consimile in cursu possint et fortis equi vis ? 



28 De Rerum Natura. 

Tu, pater, es rerum inventor, tu patria nobis 

suppeditas praecepta, tuisque ex, inclute, chartis, 10 

floriferis ut apes in saltibus omnia libant, 

omnia nos itidem depascimur aurea dicta, 

aurea, perpetua semper dignissima vita. 

Nam simul ac ratio tua coepit vociferari 

naturam rerum, divina mente coorta, J S 

diffugiunt animi terrores, moenia mundi 

discedunt, totum video per inane geri res. 

Apparet divum nuraen sedesque quietae 

quas neque concutiunt venti nee nubila nimbis 

aspergunt neque nix acri concreta pruina 2 ° 

cana cadens violat semperque innubilus aether 

integit, et large diffuso lumine rident. 

Omnia suppeditat porro natura neque ulla 

res animi pacem delibat tempore in ullo. 

At contra nusquam apparent Acherusia templa 2 S 

nee tellus obstat quin omnia dispiciantur, 

sub pedibus quaecumque infra per inane geruntur. 

His ibi me rebus quaedam divina voluptas 

percipit adque horror, quod sic natura tua vi 

tarn manifesta patens ex omni parte retecta est. 3° 

Nil igitur mors est ad nos neque pertinet hilum, (830) 
quandoquidem natura animi mortalis habetur, 
et velut anteacto nil tempore sensimus aegri, 
ad confligendum venientibus undique Poenis, 
omnia cum belli trepido concussa tumultu 35 

horrida contremuere sub altis aetheris oris, ( 8 35) 

in dubioque fuere utrorum ad regna cadendum 
omnibus humanis esset terraque marique, 
sic, ubi non erimus, cum corporis atque animai 
discidium fuerit quibus e sumus uniter apti, 4° 

scilicet haud nobis quicquam, qui non erimus turn, (840) 
accidere omnino poterit sensumque movere, 



Liber Tertius. 29 

non si terra mari miscebitur et mare caelo. 

Et si iam nostro sentit de corpore postquam 

distractast animi natura animaeque potestas, 45 

nil tamen est ad nos, qui comptu coniugioque ( 8 45) 

corporis at que animae consistimus uniter apti. 

Nee, si materiem nostram collegerit aetas 

post obitum rursumque redegerit ut sita nunc est 

atque iterum nobis fuerint data lumina vitae, 5° 

pertineat quicquam tamen ad nos id quoque factum, (850) 

interrupta semel cum sit repetentia nostri. 

Et nunc nil ad nos de nobis attinet, ante 

qui fuimus, tie que iam de illis nos adficit angor. 

Nam cum respicias inmensi temporis omne 55 

praeteritum spatium, turn motus material ( 8 55) 

multimodis quam sint, facile hoc adcredere possis, 

semina saepe in eodem, ut nunc sunt, ordine posta 

haec eadem, quibus e nunc nos sumus, ante fuisse. 

Nee memori tamen id quimus repraehendere mente ; 6o 

inter enim iectast vitai pausa vageque ( 86 °) 

deerrarunt passim motus ab sensibus omnes. 

Debet enim, misere si forte aegreque futurumst, 

ipse quoque esse in eo turn tempore, cui male possit 

accidere. Id quoniam mors eximit, esseque probet 65 

ilium cui possint incommoda conciliari, ( 86 5) 

scire licet nobis nil esse in morte timendum 

nee miserum fieri, qui non est posse, neque hilum 

differre anne ullo fuerit iam tempore natus, 

mortalem vitam mors cum inmortalis ademit. 7° 

t Iam iam non domus accipiet te laeta, neque uxor 
optima nee dulces occurrent oscula nati ( 8 95) 

praeripere et tacita pectus dulcedine tangent. 
Non poteris factis florentibus esse, tuisque 
praesidium. Misero misere ' aiunt ' omnia ademit 75 
una dies infesta tibi tot praemia vitae.' 



30 De Rerum Natura. 

Mud in his rebus non addunt ' nee tibi earum (9<x>) 

iam desiderium rerum super insidet una/ 

Quod bene si videant animo dictisque sequantur, 

dissoluant animi magno se angore metuque. 8o 

' Tu quidem ut es leto sopitus, sic eris aevi 

quod superest cunctis privatu' doloribus aegris : (9°5) 

at nos horrifico cinefactum te prope busto 

insatiabiliter deflevimus, aeternumque 

nulla dies nobis maerorem e pectore demet.' 8 S 

Illud ab hoc igitur quaerendum est, quid sit amari 

tanto opere, ad somnum si res redit at que quietem, (910) 

cur quisquam aeterno possit tabescere luctu. 

Hoc etiam faciunt, ubi discubuere tenentque 
pocula saepe homines et inumbrant ora coronis, 9° 
ex animo ut dicant ' brevis hie est fructus homullis ; 
iam fuerit neque post umquam revocare licebit.' (9*5) 

Tamquam in morte mali cum primis hoc sit eorum, 
quod sitis exurat miseros atque arida torres, 
aut aliae cuius desiderium insideat rei. 95 

Nee sibi enim quisquam turn se vitamque requirit, 
cum pariter mens et corpus sopita quiescunt ; (9 20 ) 

nam licet aeternum per nos sic esse soporem, 
nee desiderium nostri nos adficit ullum. 
Et tamen haudquaquam nostros tunc ilia per artus 100 
longe ab sensiferis primordia motibus errant, 
cum correptus homo ex somno se colligit ipse. (9 2 5) 

Multo igitur mortem minus ad nos esse putandumst, 
si minus esse potest quam quod nil esse videmus ; 
maior enim turbae disiectus materiai I0 5 

consequitur leto nee quisquam expergitus exstat, 
frigida quern semel est vitai pausa secuta. (93°) 

Denique si vocem rerum natura repente 
mittat et hoc alicui nostrum sic increpet ipsa, 
' quid tibi tanto operest, mortalis, quod nimis aegris no 
luctibus indulges ? quid mortem congemis ac fles ? 



Liber Tertius. 31 

Nam gratis anteacta fuit tibi vita priorque (935) 

et non omnia pertusum congesta quasi in vas 

commoda perfluxere atque ingrata interiere : 

cur non ut plenus vitae conviva recedis IT S 

aequo animoque capis securam, stulte, quietem? 

Sin ea, quae fructus cumque es, periere profusa (94°) 

vitaque in offensust, cur amplius addere quaeris, 

rursum quod pereat male et ingratum occidat omne, 

non potius vitae finem facis atque laboris ? I2 ° 

Nam tibi praeterea quod machiner inveniamque, 

quod placeat, nil est : eadem sunt omnia semper. (945) 

Si tibi non annis corpus iam marcet et artus 

confecti languent, eadem tamen omnia restant, 

omnia si pergas vivendo vincere saecla, 125 

atque etiam potius, si numquam sis moriturus, , 

quid respondemus, nisi iustam intendere litem (95°) 

naturam et veram verbis exponere causam ? 

Grandior hie vero si iam seniorque queratur 

atque obitum lamentetur miser amplius aequo, ^o 

non merito inclamet magis et voce increpet acri ? 

' aufer abhinc lacrimas, balatro, et compesce querellas. (955) 

Omnia perfunctus vital praemia marces. 

Sed quia semper aves quod abest, praesentia temnis, 

inperfecta tibi elapsast ingrataque vita J 35 

et nee opinanti mors ad caput adstitit ante 

quam satur ac plenus possis discedere rerum. (960) 

Nunc aliena tua tamen aetate omnia mitte 

aequo animoque agedum humanis concede : necessest.' 

lure, ut opinor, agat, iure increpet inciletque ; J 4° 

cedit enim rerum novitate extrusa vetustas 

semper, et ex aliis aliud reparare necessest ; (9 6 5) 

nee quisquam in barathrum nee Tartara deditur atra. 

Materies opus est ut crescant postera saecla ; 

quae tamen omnia te vita perfuncta sequentur ; J 45 

nee minus ergo ante haec quam tu cecidere, cadentque. 



32 De Rerum Natura. 

Sic alid ex alio numquam desistet oriri (97°) 

vitaque mancipio nulli datur, omnibus usu. 
Respice item quam nil ad nos anteacta vetustas 
temporis aeterni merit, quam nascimur ante. J S° 

Hoc igitur speculum nobis natura futuri 
temporis exponit post mortem denique nostram. (975) 

Numquid ibi horribile apparet, num triste videtur 
quicquam, non omni somno securius exstat? 

Atque ea nimirum quaecumque Acherunte profundo 
prodita sunt esse, in vita sunt omnia nobis. *5 6 

Nee miser inpendens magnum timet aere saxum (980) 

Tantalus, ut famast, cassa formidine torpens ; 
sed magis in vita divom metus urget inanis 
mortalis casumque timent quern cuique ferat fors. 160 
Nee Tityon volucres ineunt Acherunte iacentem 
nee quod sub magno scrutentur pectore quicquam (9 8 5) 
perpetuam aetatem possunt reperire profecto. 
Quamlibet immani proiectu corporis exstet, 
qui non sola novem dispessis iugera membris l6 S 

optineat, sed qui terrai totius orbem, 

non tamen aeternum poterit perferre dolorem (990) 

nee praebere cibum proprio de corpore semper. 
Sed Tityos nobis hie est, in amore iacentem 
quern volucres lacerant atque exest anxius angor 170 
aut alia quavis scindunt cuppedine curae. 
Sisyphus in vita quoque nobis ante oculos est (995) 

qui petere a populo fasces saevasque secures 
imbibit et semper victus tristisque recedit. 
Nam petere imperium quod inanest nee datur, umquam 
atque in eo semper durum sufferre laborem, 176 

hoc est adverso nixantem trudere monte (1000) 

saxum quod tamen e summo iam vertice rusum 
volvitur et plani raptim petit aequora campi. 
Deinde animi ingratam naturam pascere semper 180 
atque explere bonis rebus satiareque numquam, 



Liber Tertius. 33 

quod faciunt nobis annorum tempora, circum (i°°5) 

cum redeunt fetusque ferunt variosque lepores, 

nee tamen explemur vitai fructibus umquam, 

hoc, ut opinor, id est, aevo florente puellas l8 5 

quod memorant laticem pertusum congerere in vas, 

quod tamen expleri nulla ratione potestur. (1010) 

Cerberus et furiae iam vero et lucis egestas 

Tartarus horriferos eructans faucibus aestus, 

qui neque sunt usquam nee possunt esse profecto. 190 

Sed metus in vita poenarum pro male factis 

est insignibus insignis, scelerisque luella, ( IOI 5) 

career et horribilis de saxo iactu' deorsum, 

verbera carnifices robur pix lammina taedae ; 

quae tamen etsi absunt, at mens sibi conscia factis 195 

praemetuens adhibet stimulos terretque flagellis 

nee videt interea qui terminus esse malorum (1020) 

possit nee quae sit poenarum denique finis 

atque eadem metuit magis haec ne in morte gravescant. 

Hie Acherusia fit stultorum denique vita. 2 °° 

Hoc etiam tibi tute inter dum dicere possis 
'lumina sis oculis etiam bonus Ancu' reliquit C 1 ^) 

qui melior multis quam tu fuit, improbe, rebus. 
Inde alii multi reges rerumque potentes 
occiderunt, magnis qui gentibus imperitarunt. 2 °S 

Ille quoque ipse, viam qui quondam per mare magnum 
stravit iterque dedit legionibus ire per altum ( I0 3°) 

ac pedibus salsas docuit superare lucunas 
et contemsit quis insultans murmura ponti, 
lumine adempto animam moribundo corpore fudit. 210 
Scipiadas, belli fulmen, Carthaginis horror, 
ossa dedit terrae proinde ac famul infimus esset. ( I0 35) 

Adde repertores doctrinarum atque leporum, 
adde Heliconiadum comites ; quorum unus Homerus 
sceptra potitus eadem aliis sopitu' quietest. 2I 5 

Denique Democritum postquam matura vetustas 



34 De Rerum Natura. 

admonuit memores motus languescere mentis, ( x <Ho) 

sponte sua leto caput obvius optulit ipse. 

Ipse Epicurus obit decurso lumine vitae, 

qui genus humanum ingenio superavit et omnis 220 

restincxit, Stellas exortus ut aetherius sol. 

Tu vero dubitabis et indignabere obire ? ( I °45) 

mortua cui vita est prope iam vivo atque videnti, 

qui somno partem maiorem conteris aevi 

et vigilans stertis nee somnia cernere cessas 22 5 

sollicitamque geris cassa formidine mentem 

nee reperire potes tibi quid sit saepe mali, cum ( I0 S°) 

ebrius urgeris multis miser undique curis 

atque animi incerto fluitans errore vagaris.' 

Si possent homines, proinde ac sentire videntur 230 
pondus inesse animo quod se gravitate fatiget, 
e quibus id fiat causis quoque noscere et unde ( I0 S5) 

tanta mali tamquam moles in pectore constet, 
haut ita vitam agerent, ut nunc plerumque videmus 
quid sibi quisque velit nescire et quaerere semper 235 
commutare locum quasi onus deponere possit. 
Exit saepe foras magnis ex aedibus ille, (1060) 

esse domi quern pertaesumst, subitoque revertit, 
quippe foris nilo melius qui sentiat esse. 
Currit agens mannos ad villam praecipitanter, 2 4° 

auxilium tectis quasi ferre ardentibus instans ; 
oscitat extemplo, tetigit cum limina villae, (*°65) 

aut abit in somnum gravis atque oblivia quaerit, 
aut etiam properans urbem petit atque revisit. 
Hoc se quisque modo fugit (at quern scilicet, ut fit, 245 
effugere haut potis est, ingratis haeret) et odit 
propterea, morbi quia causam non tenet aeger ; ( io 7°) 

quam bene si videat, iam rebus quisque relictis 
naturam primum studeat cognoscere rerum, 
temporis aeterni quoniam, non unius horae, 2 5° 

ambigitur status, in quo sit mortalibus omnis 



Liber Quintus. 35 

aetas, post mortem quae restat cumque manenda. (1075) 

Denique tanto opere in dubiis trepidare periclis 
quae mala nos subigit vital tanta cupido ? 
Certa quidem finis vitae mortalibus adstat 2 55 

nee devitari letum pote quin obeamus. 
Praeterea versamur ibidem atque insumus usque (1080) 

nee nova vivendo procuditur ulla voluptas ; 
sed dum abest quod avemus, id exsuperare videtur 
cetera ; post aliut, cum contigit illud, avemus 26 ° 

et sitis aequa tenet vital semper hiantis. 
Posteraque in dubiost fortunam quam vehat aetas, ( Io8 5) 
quidve ferat nobis casus quive exitus instet. 
Nee prorsum vitam ducendo demimus hilum 
tempore de mortis nee delibare valemus, 26 5 

quo minus esse diu possimus forte perempti. 
Proinde licet quot vis vivendo condere saecla ; (1090) 

mors aeterna tamen nilo minus ilia manebit, 
nee minus ille diu iam non erit, ex hodierno 
lumine qui finem vitai fecit, et ille, 270 

mensibus atque annis qui multis occidit ante. 



LIBER QUINTUS. 

Quis potis est dignum pollenti pectore carmen 
condere pro rerum maiestate hisque repertis ? 
quisve valet verbis tantum qui fingere laudes 
pro mentis eius possit qui talia nobis 
pectore parta suo quaesitaque praemia liquit? 
Nemo, ut opinor, erit mortali corpore cretus ; 
nam si, ut ipsa petit maiestas cognita rerum, 
dicendum est, deus ille fuit, deus, inclyte Memmi, 
qui princeps vitae rationem invenit earn quae 
nunc appellatur sapientia, quique per artem 



36 De Rerum Natura. 

fluctibus e tantis vitam tantisque tenebris 
in tarn tranquillo et tarn clara luce locavit. 

At nisi purgatumst pectus, quae proelia nobis 
atque pericula tumst ingratis insinuandum ! 
quantae turn scindunt hominem cuppedinis acres 15 (45) 
sollicitum curae quantique perinde timores ! 
quidve superbia spurcitia ac petulantia? quantas 
efficiunt clades ! quid luxus desidiaeque ? 
haec igitur qui cuncta subegerit ex animoque 
expulerit dictis, non armis, nonne decebit 20 (5°) 

hunc hominem numero divom dignarier esse ? 
cum bene praesertim multa ac divinitus ipsis 
immortalibu' de divis dare dicta suerit 
atque omnem rerum naturam pandere dictis. 

Cuius ego ingressus vestigia dum rationes 2 5 (55) 

persequor ac doceo dictis, quo quaeque creata 
foedere sint, in eo quam sit durare necessum 
nee validas valeant aevi rescindere leges, 
quo genere in primis animi natura reperta est 
nativo primum consistere corpore creta 3° (60) 

nee posse incolumis magnum durare per aevom, 
sed simulacra solere in somnis fallere mentem, 
cernere cum videamur eum quern vita reliquit, 
quod superest, nunc hue rationis detulit ordo, 
ut mihi mortali consistere corpore mundum 35 ( 6 S) 

nativomque simul ratio reddunda sit esse ; 
et quibus ille modis congressus materiai 
fundarit terram caelum mare sidera solem 
lunaique globum ; turn quae tellure animantes 
extiterint, et quae nullo sint tempore natae ; 40 (70) 

quove modo genus humanum variante loquella 
coeperit inter se vesci per nomina rerum ; 
et quibus ille modis divom metus insinuarit 
pectora, terrarum qui in orbi sancta tuetur 



Liber Quintus. 37 

fana lacus lucos aras simulacraque divom. 45 (75) 

Praeterea solis cursus lunaeque meatus 

expediam qua vi flectat natura gubernans ; 

ne forte haec inter caelum terramque reamur 

libera sponte sua cursus lustrare perennis 

morigera ad fruges augendas atque animantis, 5° ( 8 °) 

neve aliqua divom volvi ratione putemus. 

Nam bene qui didicere deos securum agere aevom, 

si tamen inter e a mirantur qua ratione 

quaeque geri possint, praesertim rebus in illis 

quae supera caput aetheriis cernuntur in oris, 55 ( 8 5) 

rursus in antiquas referuntur religiones 

et dominos acris adsciscunt, omnia posse 

quos miseri credunt, ignari quid queat esse, 

quid nequeat, finita potestas denique cuique 

quanam sit ratione atque alte terminus haerens. 6o (9°) 

Quod superest, ne te in promissis plura moremur, 
principio maria ac terras caelumque tuere ; 
quorum naturam triplicem, tria corpora, Memmi, 
tris species tarn dissimilis, tria talia texta, 
una dies dabit exitio, multosque per annos 6 5 (95) 

sustentata ruet moles et machina mundi. 

Illud item non est ut possis credere sedes 
esse deum sanctas in mundi partibus ullis. 
Tenvis enim natura deum longeque remota 
sensibus ab nostris animi vix mente videtur ; 7° 

quae quoniam manuum tactum suffugit et ictum, (150) 

tactile nil nobis quod sit contingere debet. 
Tangere enim non quit quod tangi non licet ipsum. 
Quare etiam sedes quoque nostris sedibus esse 
dissimiles debent, tenues de corpore eorum ; 75 

quae tibi posterius largo sermone probabo. ( J 55) 

Dicere porro hominum causa voluisse parare 
praeclaram mundi naturam proptereaque 



38 De Rerinn Natura. 

adlaudabile opus divom laudare decere 

aeternumque putare atque inmortale futurum 8o 

nee fas esse, deum quod sit ratione vetusta ( l6 o) 

gentibus humanis fundatum perpetuo aevo, 

sollicitare suis ulla vi ex sedibus umquam 

nee verbis vexare et ab imo evertere summa, 

cetera de genere hoc adiingere et addere, Memmi, 85 

desiperest. Quid enim inmortalibus atque beatis (165) 

gratia nostra queat largirier emolumenti, 

ut nostra quicquam causa gerere adgrediantur ? 

quidve novi potuit tanto post ante quietos 

inlicere ut cuperent vitam mutare priorem ? 9° 

Sed quibus ille modis coniectus materiai 
fundarit terrain et caelum pontique profunda, 
solis lunai cursus, ex ordine ponam. 
Nam certe neque consilio primordia rerum 
ordine se suo quaeque sagaci mente locarunt 95 (420) 

nee quos quaeque darent motus pepigere profecto, 
sed quia multa modis multis primordia rerum 
ex infinito iam tempore percita plagis 
ponderibusque suis consuerunt concita ferri 
omnimodisque coire atque omnia pertemptare 100 (425) 
quaecumque inter se possent congressa creare, 
propterea fit uti magnum volgata per aevom 
omne genus coetus et motus experiundo 
tandem conveniant ea quae convecta repente 
magnarum rerum fiunt exordia saepe, I0 S (43°) 

terrai maris et caeli generisque animantum. 

Hie neque turn solis rota cerni lumine largo 
altivolans poterat nee magni sidera mundi 
nee mare nee caelum nee denique terra neque aer 
nee similis nostris rebus res ulla videri, II0 (435) 

sed nova tempestas quaedam molesque coorta 
omne genus de principiis, discordia quorum 



Liber Quintus. 39 

intervalla vias conexus pondera plagas 

concursus motus turbabat proelia miscens, 

propter dissimilis formas variasque figuras 1X S (44°) 

quod non omnia sic poterant coniuncta manere 

nee motus inter sese dare convenientis. 

Diffugere inde loci partes coepere paresque 

cum paribus iungi res et discludere mundum 

membraque dividere et magnas disponere partes, 120 (445) 

hoc est, a terris altum secernere caelum, 

et sorsum mare uti secreto umore pateret, 

seorsus item puri secretique aetheris ignes. 

Quippe etenim primum terrai corpora quaeque, 
propterea quod erant gravia et perplexa, coibant 125 (450) 
in medio atque imas capiebant omnia sedes ; 
quae quanto magis inter se perplexa coibant, 
tarn magis expressere ea quae mare sidera solem 
lunamque enicerent et magni moenia mundi. 
Omnia enim magis haec e levibus atque rutundis 130 (455) 
seminibus multoque minoribu' sunt elementis 
quam tellus. Ideo, per rara foramina, terrae 
partibus erumpens primus se sustulit aether 
ignifer et multos secum levis abstulit ignis, 
non alia longe ratione ac saepe videmus, J 35 (46°) 

aurea cum primum gemmantis rore per herbas 
matutina rubent radiati lumina solis 
exhalantque lacus nebulam fluviique perennes, 
ipsaque ut interdum tellus fumare videtur ; 
omnia quae sursum cum conciliantur, in alto 2 4o (4 6 5) 

corpore concreto subtexunt nubila caelum. 
Sic igitur turn se levis ac diffusilis aether 
corpore concreto circumdatus undiqueyfcn/ 
et late diffusus in omnis undique partis 
omnia sic avido complexu cetera saepsit. *45 (470) 

Hunc exordia sunt solis lunaeque secuta, 
interutraque globi quorum vertuntur in auris ; 



40 De Reritm Natura. 

quae neque terra sibi adscivit nee maximus aether, 
quod neque tarn fuerunt gravia ut depressa sederent, 
nee levia ut possent per summas labier oras, 150 (475) 

et tamen interutraque ita sunt ut corpora viva 
versent et partes ut mundi totius extent. 

It ver et Venus, et Veneris praenuntius ante 
pennatus graditur, zephyri, vestigia propter 
Flora quibus mater praespargens ante viai 155 

cuncta coloribus egregiis et odoribus opplet. (740) 

Inde loci sequitur calor aridus et comes una 
pulverulenta Ceres et etesia flabra aquilonum. 
Inde autumnus adit, graditur simul Euhius Euan. 
Inde aliae tempestates ventique secuntur, l6 ° 

altitonans Volturnus et auster fulmine pollens. (745> 

Tandem bruma nives adfert pigrumque rigorem, 
prodit hiemps, sequitur crepitans hanc dentibus algor. 

Quod superest, quoniam magni per caerula mundi 
qua fieri quicquid posset ratione resolvi, l6 5 

solis uti varios cursus lunaeque meatus 
noscere possemus quae vis et causa cieret, (775) 

quodve modo possent offecto lumine obire 
et neque opinantis tenebris obducere terras, 
cum quasi conivent et aperto lumine rursum x 7° 

omnia convisunt clara loca Candida luce, 
nunc redeo ad mundi novitatem et mollia terrae (780) 

arva, novo fetu quid primum in luminis oras 
tollere et incertis crerint committere ventis. 

Principio genus herbarum viridemque nitorem 175 
terra dedit circum collis camposque per omnis, 
florida fulserunt viridanti prata colore, (785) 

arboribusque datumst variis exinde per auras 
crescendi magnum inmissis certamen habenis. 
Ut pluma atque pili primum saetaeque creantur 180 



Liber Qiiintus. 41 

quadripedum membris et corpore pennipotentum, 

sic nova turn tellus herbas virgultaque primum (790) 

sustulit, inde loci mortalia saeola creavit 

multa modis multis varia ratione coorta. 

At genus humanum multo fuit illud in arvis 185 (925) 
durius, ut decuit, tellus quod dura creasset, 
et maioribus et solidis magis ossibus intus 
fundatum, validis aptum per viscera nervis, 
nee facile ex aestu nee frigore quod caperetur 
nee novitate cibi nee labi corporis ulla. *9° (93°) 

Multaque per caelum solis volventia lustra 
volgivago vitam tractabant more ferarum. 
Nee robustus erat curvi moderator aratri 
quisquam, nee scibat ferro molirier arva 
nee nova defodere in terrain virgulta neque altis 195 (935) 
arboribus veteres decidere falcibu' ramos. 
Quod sol atque imbres dederant, quod terra crearat 
sponte sua, satis id placabat pectora donum. 
Glandiferas inter curabant corpora quercus 
plerumque ; et quae nunc hiberno tempore cernis 200 (940) 
arbita puniceo fieri matura colore, 
plurima turn tellus etiam maiora ferebat. 
Multaque praeterea novitas turn florida mundi 
pabula dura tulit, miseris mortalibus ampla. 
At sedare sitim fluvii fontesque vocabant, ^5 (945) 

ut nunc montibus e magnis decursus aquai 
claru' citat late sitientia saecla ferarum. 
Denique nota vagi silvestria templa tenebant 
nympharum, quibus e scibant umori' fluenta 
lubrica proluvie larga lavere umida saxa, 2I0 (95°) 

umida saxa, super viridi stillantia musco, 
et partim piano scatere atque erumpere campo. 
Necdum res igni scibant tractare neque uti 
pellibus et spoliis corpus vestire ferarum, 



42 De Rerum Natura. 

sed nemora atque cavos montis silvasque colebant 215 (955) 

et frutices inter condebant squalida membra 

verbera ventorum vitare imbrisque coacti. 

Nee commune bonum poterant spectare neque ullis 

moribus inter se scibant nee legibus uti. 

Quod cuique obtulerat praedae fortuna, ferebat 220 (960) 

sponte sua sibi quisque valere et vivere doctus. 

At non multa virum sub signis milia ducta 
una dies dabat exitio nee turbida ponti (1000) 

aequora fiigebant navis ad saxa virosque. 
Hie temere incassum frustra mare saepe coortum 225 
saevibat leviterque minas ponebat inanis, 
nee poterat quemquam placidi pellacia ponti 
subdola pellicere in fraudem ridentibus undis, ( IOO S) 

improba naucleri ratio cum caeca iacebat. 
Turn penuria deinde cibi languentia leto 2 3° 

membra dabat, contra nunc rerum copia mersat. 
UK imprudentes ipsi sibi saepe venenum 
vergebant, nyxrui nunc dant sollertius ipsi. (1010) 

Inde casas postquam ac pellis ignemque pararunt, 
et mulier coniuncta viro concessit in unum 2 3S 

conubium, prolemque ex se videre creatam, 
turn genus humanum primum mollescere coepit. 
Ignis enim curavit ut alsia corpora frigus ( IOI 5) 

non ita iam possent caeli sub tegmine ferre, 
et Venus inminuit viris puerique parentum 24° 

blanditiis facile ingenium fregere superbum. 
Tunc et amicitiem coeperunt iungere aventes 
finitimi inter se nee laedere nee violari, (1020) 

et pueros commendarunt muliebreque saeclum, 
vocibus et gestu cum balbe significarent 245 

imbecillorum esse aecum misererier omnis. 
Nee tamen omnimodis poterat concordia gigni, 
sed bona magnaque pars servabat foedera caste ; (1025) 



Liber Quintus. 43 

aut genus humanum iam turn foret omne peremptum 
nee potuisset adhuc perducere saecla propago. 2 5° 

At varios linguae sonitus natura subegit 
mittere et utilitas expressit nomina rerum, 
non alia longe ratione atque ipsa videtur ( io 3°) 

protrahere ad gestum pueros infantia linguae, 
cum facit ut digito quae sint praesentia monstrent. 255 
Sentit enim vim quisque suam quoad possit abuti. 
Cornua nata prius vitulo quam frontibus extent, 
illis iratus petit atque infestus inurget. ( io 35) 

At catuli pantherarum scymnique leonum 
unguibus ac pedibus iam turn morsuque repugnant, 260 
vix etiam cum sunt dentes unguesque creati. 
Alituum porro genus alis omne videmus 
fidere et a pinnis tremulum petere auxiliatum. ( io 4°) 

Proinde putare aliquem turn nomina distribuisse 
rebus et inde homines didicisse vocabula prima, 265 
desiperest. Nam cur hie posset cuncta notare 
vocibus et varios sonitus emittere linguae, 
tempore eodem alii facere id non quisse putentur? (1045) 
praeterea si non alii quoque vocibus usi 
inter se fuerant, unde insita notities est 2 7° 

utilitatis et unde data est huic prima potestas, 
quid vellet facere ut sciret animoque videret ? 

Inque dies magis hi victum vitamque priorem (1105) 
commutare novis monstrabant rebu' benigni, 
ingenio qui praestabant et corde vigebant. ^5 

Condere coeperunt urbis arcemque locare 
praesidium reges ipsi sibi perfugiumque, 
et pecus atque agros divisere atque dedere (i"o) 

pro facie cuiusque et viribus ingenioque ; 
nam facies multum valuit viresque vigentes. 28 ° 

Posterius res inventast aurumque repertum, 
quod facile et validis et pulchris dempsit honorem ; 






44 De Renim Natura. 

divitioris enim sectam plerumque secuntur ( XII 5) 

quamlubet et fortes et pulchro corpore creti. 

Quod siquis vera vitam ratione gubernet, 28 5 

divitiae grandes homini sunt vivere parce 

aequo animo ; neque enim est umquam penuria parvi. 

At claros homines voluerunt se atque potentes, (1120) 

ut fundamento stabili fortuna maneret 

et placidam possent opulenti degere vitam, 2 9° 

nequiquam, quoniam ad summum succedere honorem 

certantes iter infestum fecere viai, 

et tamen e summo, quasi fulmen, deicit ictos ( II2 5) 

invidia interdum contemptim in Tartara taetra ; 

invidia quoniam, ceu fulmine, summa vaporant 295 

plerumque et quae sunt aliis magis edita cumque ; 

ut satius multo iam sit parere quietum 

quam regere imperio res velle et regna tenere. C 1 ^ ) 

Proinde sine incassum defessi sanguine sudent, 

angustum per iter luctantes ambitionis ; 3°° 

quandoquidem sapiunt alieno ex ore petuntque 

res ex auditis potius quam sensibus ipsis, 

nee magis id nunc est neque erit mox quam fuit ante. (1135) 

Ergo regibus occisis subversa iacebat 
pristina maiestas soliorum et sceptra superba, 3°5 
et capitis summi praeclarum insigne cruentum 
sub pedibus vulgi magnum lugebat honorem ; 
nam cupide conculcatur nimis ante metutum. ( I3: 4 ) 

Res itaque ad summam faecem turbasque redibat, 
imperium sibi cum ac summatum quisque petebat. 310 
Inde magistratum partim docuere creare 
iuraque constituere, ut vellent legibus uti. 
Nam genus humanum, defessum vi colere aevom, (1145) 
ex inimicitiis languebat ; quo magis ipsum 
sponte sua cecidit sub leges artaque iura. 3*5 

Acrius ex ira quod enim se quisque parabat 
ulcisci quam nunc concessumst legibus aequis, 



Liber Quintus. 45 

hanc ob rem est homines pertaesum vi colere aevom. (1150) 

Inde metus maculat poenarum praemia vitae. 

Circumretit enim vis atque iniuria quemque 3 2 ° 

atque, unde exortast, ad eum plerumque revertit, 

nee facilest placidam ac pacatam degere vitam 

qui violat factis communia foedera pacis. ( II S5) 

Etsi fallit enim divom genus humanumque, 

perpetuo tamen id fore clam difiidere debet ; 3 2 5 

quippe ubi se multi per somnia saepe loquentes 

aut morbo delirantes protraxe ferantur 

et celata mala in medium et peccata dedisse. (1160) 

Nunc quae causa deum per magnas numina gentis 
pervulgarit et ararum compleverit urbis 33° 

suscipiendaque curarit sollemnia sacra, 
quae nunc in magnis florent sacra rebu' locisque, 
unde etiam nunc est mortalibus insitus horror ( Il6 S) 

qui delubra deum nova toto suscitat orbi 
terrarum et festis cogit celebrare diebus, 335 

non ita difficilest rationem reddere verbis. 
Quippe etenim iam turn divom mortalia saecla 
egregias animo facies vigilante videbant ("70) 

et magis in somnis mirando corporis auctu. 
His igitur sensum tribuebant propterea quod 34° 

membra movere videbantur vocesque superbas 
mittere pro facie praeclara et viribus amplis. 
Aeternamque dabant vitam, quia semper eorum ( JI 75) 

subpeditabatur facies et forma manebat, 
et tamen omnino quod tantis viribus auctos 345 

non temere ulla vi convinci posse putabant. 
Fortunisque ideo longe praestare putabant, 
quod mortis timor haut quemquam vexaret eorum, (1180) 
et simul in somnis quia multa et mira videbant 
efficere et nullum capere ipsos inde laborem. 35° 

Praeterea caeli rationes ordine certo 
et varia annorum cernebant tempora verti 



46 De Rerum Natnra. 

nee poterant quibus id fieret cognoscere causis. ( Il8 S) 

Ergo perfugium sibi habebant omnia divis 

tradere et illorum nutu facere omnia flecti. 355 

In caeloque deum sedes et templa locarunt, 

per caelum volvi quia nox et luna videtur, 

luna dies et nox et noctis signa severa ("9°) 

noctivagaeque faces caeli flammaeque volantes, 

nubila sol imbres nix venti fulmina grando 36° 

et rapidi fremitus et murmura magna minarum. 

O genus infelix humanum, talia divis 
cum tribuit facta atque iras adiunxit acerbas ! ("95) 

quantos turn gemitus ipsi sibi, quantaque nobis 
volnera, quas lacrimas peperere minoribu , nostris ! 3 6 S 
Nee pietas ullast velatum saepe videri 
vertier ad lapidem atque omnis accedere ad aras 
nee procumbere humi prostratum et pandere palmas (1200) 
ante deum delubra nee aras sanguine multo 
spargere quadrupedum nee votis nectere vota, 37° 
sed mage pacata posse omnia mente tueri. 
Nam cum suspicimus magni caelestia mundi 
templa, super stellisque micantibus aethera fixum, (1205) 
et venit in mentem solis lunaeque viarum, 
tunc aliis oppressa malis in pectora cura 375 

ilia quoque expergefactum caput erigere infit, 
nequae forte deum nobis inmensa potestas 
sit, vario motu quae Candida sidera verset. (1210) 

Temptat enim dubiam mentem rationis egestas, 
ecquaenam fuerit mundi genitalis origo, 380 

et simul ecquae sit finis, quoad moenia mundi 
solliciti motus hunc possint ferre laborem, 
an divinitus aeterna donata salute ( I2I 5) 

perpetuo possint aevi labentia tractu 
inmensi validas aevi contemnere viris. 3 8 5 

Praeterea cui non animus formidine divum 
contrahitur, cui non correpunt membra pavore, 
/ 



Liber Quintus. 47 

fulminis horribili cum plaga torrida tellus (1220) 

contremit et magnum percurrunt murmura caelum? 

Non populi gentesque tremunt, regesque superbi 390 

corripiunt divum percussi membra timore, 

nequid ob admissum foede dictumve superbe 

poenarum grave sit solvendi tempus adultum? (*225) 

Summa etiam cum vis violenti per mare venti 

induperatorem classis super aequora verrit 395 

cum validis pariter legionibus atque elephantis, 

non divom pacem votis adit ac prece quaesit 

ventorum pavidus paces animasque secundas, (1230) 

nequiquam, quoniam violento turbine saepe 

correptus nilo fertur minus ad vada leti ? 400 

Usque adeo res humanas vis abdita quaedam 

opterit et pulchros fascis saevasque secures 

proculcare ac ludibrio sibi habere videtur. (1235) 

Denique sub pedibus tellus cum tota vacillat 

concussaeque cadunt urbes dubiaeque minantur, 405 

quid mirum si se temnunt mortalia saecla 

atque potestatis magnas mirasque relinqunt 

in rebus viris divum, quae cuncta gubernent? ( I2 4°) 

At specimen sationis et insitionis origo 
ipsa fuit rerum primum natura creatrix, 4 IQ 

arboribus quoniam bacae glandesque caducae 
tempestiva dabant pullorum examina supter ; 
unde etiam libitumst stirpis committere ramis ( X 3 6 S) 

et nova defodere in terram virgulta per agros. 
Inde aliam atque aliam culturam dulcis agelli 4*5 

temptabant fructusque feros mansuescere terram 
cernebant indulgendo blandeque colendo. 
Inque dies magis in montem succedere silvas (J37°) 

cogebant infraque locum concedere cultis, 
prata lacus rivos segetes vinetaque laeta 4 20 

collibus et campis ut haberent, atque olearum 



48 De Rerum Natura. 

caerula distinguens inter plaga currere posset 

per tumulos et convallis camposque profusa ; (*375) 

ut nunc esse vides vario distincta lepore 

omnia, quae pomis intersita dulcibus ornant 4 2 5 

arbustisque tenent felicibus opsita circum. 

At liquidas avium voces imitarier ore 
ante fuit multo quam levia carmina cantu to 80 ) 

concelebrare homines possent aurisque iuvare. 
Et zephyri, cava per calamorum, sibila primum 430 
agrestis docuere cavas inflare cicutas. 
Inde minutatim dulcis didicere querellas, 
tibia quas fundit digitis pulsata canentum, (!3 8 5) 

avia per nemora ac silvas saltusque reperta, 
per loca pastorum deserta atque otia dia. 435 

Haec animos ollis mulcebant atque iuvabant ( J 39o) 

cum satiate cibi ; nam turn haec sunt omnia cordi. 
Saepe itaque inter se prostrati in gramine molli 
propter aquae rivom sub ramis arboris altae 
non magnis opibus iucunde corpora habebant, 440 
praesertim cum tempestas ridebat et anni (1395) 

tempora pingebant viridantis floribus herbas. 
Turn ioca, turn sermo, turn dulces esse cachinni 
consuerant. Agrestis enim turn musa vigebat ; 
turn caput atque umeros plexis redimire coronis 445 
floribus et foliis las ci via laeta monebat, (1400) 

atque extra numerum procedere membra moventes 
duriter et duro terram pede pellere matrem ; 
unde oriebantur risus dulcesque cachinni, 
omnia quod nova turn magis haec et mira vigebant. 450 
Et vigilantibus hinc aderant solacia somni, (*4 5) 

ducere multimodis voces et flectere cantus 
et supera calamos unco percurrere labro ; 
unde etiam vigiles nunc haec accepta tuentur 
et numerum servare greens didicere, neque hilo 455 
maiorem interea capiunt du^edim* fructum (14*0) 



Liber Quintus. 49 

quam silvestre genus capiebat terrigenarum. 
Nam quod adest praesto, nisi quid cognovimus ante 
suavius, in primis placet et pollere videtur, 
posteriorque fere melior res ilia reperta 4 6 ° 

perdit et immutat sensus ad pristina quaeque. (^is) 

Ergo hominum genus incassum frustraque laborat (1430) 
semper et in curis consumit inanibus aevom, 
nimirum quia non cognovit quae sit habendi 
finis et omnino quoad crescat vera voluptas. 4 6 5 

Idque minutatim vitam provexit in altum 
et belli magnos commovit funditus aestus. (*435) 

At vigiles mundi magnum ac versatile templum 
sol et luna suo lustrantes lumine circum 
perdocuere homines annorum tempora verti 470 

et certa ratione geri rem atque ordine certo. 

lam validis saepti degebant turribus aevom (1440) 

et divisa colebatur discretaque tellus, 
iam mare velivolis florebat puppibus ; urbes 
auxilia ac socios iam pacto foedere habebant, 475 
carminibus cum res gestas coepere poetae 
tradere ; nee multo priu' sunt elementa reperta. (*445) 

Propterea quid sit prius actum respicere aetas 
nostra nequit, nisi qua ratio vestigia monstrat. 

Navigia atque agri culturas moenia leges $° 

arma vias vestes et cetera de genere horum, 
praemia, delicias quoque vitae funditus omnis, ( I 45°) 

carmina picturas, et daedala signa polire, 
usus et impigrae simul experientia mentis 
paulatim docuit pedetemtim progredientis. 4^5 

Sic unumquicquid paulatim protrahit aetas 
in medium ratioque in luminis erigit oras. (!455) 

Namque alid ex alio clarescere et ordine debet 
artibus, ad summum donee venere cacumen. 



ALBII TIBULLI ELEGIAE. 



I. (i. i.) 

DIVITIi\S alius fulvo sibi congerat auro 
et teneat culti iugera multa soli, 
quern labor assiduus vicino terreat hoste, 

Martia cui somnos classica pulsa fugent : 
me mea paupertas vitae traducat inerti, 5 

dum meus assiduo luceat igne focus. 
Ipse seram teneras maturo tempore vites 

rusticus et facili grandia poma manu : 
nee spes destituat, sed frugum semper acervos 

praebeat et pleno pinguia musta lacu. IO 

Nam veneror, seu stipes habet desertus in agris 

seu vetus in trivio florea serta lapis : 
et quodcumque mihi pomum novus educat annus, 

libatum agricolae ponitur ante deum. 
Flava Ceres, tibi sit nostro de rure corona *5 

spicea, quae templi pendeat ante fores : 
pomosisque ruber custos ponatur in hortis, 

terreat ut saeva falce Priapus aves. 
Vos quoque, felicis quondam nunc pauperis agri 

custodes, fertis munera vestra, Lares. 2° 

Tunc vitula innumeros lustrabat caesa iuvencos : 

nunc agna exigui est hostia parva soli. 
Agna cadet vobis, qua'm circum rustica pubes 

clamet ' io messes et bona vina date.' 
lam modo non possum contentus vivere parvo 2 S 

Si 



52 Tibiilli Elegiae. [i. 

nee semper longae deditus esse viae, 
sed Canis aestivos ortus vitare sub umbra 

arboris ad rivos praetereuntis aquae. 
Nee tamen interdum pudeat tenuisse bidentes 

aut stimulo tardos increpuisse boves, 3° 

non agnamve sinu pigeat fetumve capellae 

desertum oblita matre referre domum. 
At vos exiguo pecori, furesque lupique, 

parcite : de magno praeda petenda grege. 
Hie ego pastoremque raeum lustrare quot annis 35 

et placidam soleo spargere lacte Palem. 
Adsitis, divi, nee vos de paupere mensa 

dona nee e puris spernite fictilibus. 
Fictilia antiquus primum sibi fecit agrestis 

pocula, de facili composuitque luto. 4° 

Non ego divitias patrum fructusque requiro, 

quos tulit antiquo condita messis avo : 
parva seges satis est, satis est, requiescere lecto 

sei licet et solito membra levare toro. 
Quam iuvat immites ventos audire cubantem 45 

et dominam tenero detinuisse sinu 
aut, gelidas hibernus aquas cum fuderit Auster, 

securum somnos imbre iuvante sequi ! 
Hoc mihi contingat : sit dives iure, furorem 

qui maris et tristes ferre potest pluvias. 5° 

O quantum est auri pereat potiusque smaragdi, 

quam fleat ob nostras ulla puella vias. 
Te bellare decet terra, Messala, marique, 

ut domus hostiles praeferat exuvias. 
Non ego laudari euro, mea Delia : tecum 55 

dum modo sim, quaeso segnis inersque vocer. 
Te spectem, suprema mihi cum venerit hora, 

te teneam moriens deficiente manu. (6°) 

Flebis et arsuro positum me, Delia, lecto, 

tristibus et lacrimis oscula mixta dabis. 6° 






n.] Tibulli Elegiac 53 

Flebis : non tua sunt duro praecordia ferro 

vincta, nee in tenero stat tibi corde silex. 
Illo non iuvenis poterit de funere quisquam ( 6 5) 

lumina, non virgo, sicca referre domum. 
Tu Manes ne laede meos, sed parce solutis 6 5 

crinibus et teneris, Delia, parce genis. 
Interea, dum fata sinunt, iungamus amores : 

iam veniet tenebris Mors adoperta caput, (7°) 

iam subrepet iners aetas, neque amare decebit, 

dicere nee cano blanditias capiti. 7° 

Hie ego dux milesque bonus : vos, signa tubaeque, (75) 

ite procul, cupidis vulnera ferte viris, 
ferte et opes : ego composito securus acervo 

despiciam dites despiciamque famem. 



11. 0.3.) 

Ibitis Aegaeas sine me, Messala, per undas, 

O utinam memores ipse cohorsque mei : 
me tenet ignotis aegrum Phaeacia terras : 

abstineas avidas, Mors precor atra, manus. 
Abstineas, Mors atra, precor : non hie mihi mater 5 

quae legat in maestos ossa perusta sinus, 
non soror, Assyrios cineri quae dedat odores 

et fleat effusis ante sepulcra comis, 
Delia non usquam ; quae me cum mitteret urbe, 

dicitur ante omnes consuluisse deos. I0 

Ilia sacras pueri sortes ter sustulit : illi 

rettulit e triviis omina certa puer. 
Cuncta dabant reditus : tamen est deterrita numquam, 

quin fleret nostras prospiceretque vias. 
Ipse ego solator, cum iam mandata dedissem, J S 

quaerebam tardas anxius usque moras. 
Aut ego sum causatus aves aut omina dira, 



54 Tibulli Elegiae. [n. 

Satumive sacram me tenuisse diem. 
O quotiens ingressus iter mihi tristia dixi 

offensum in porta signa dedisse pedem ! 2 o 

Audeat invito ne quis discedere Amore, 

aut sciat egressum se prohibente deo. 
Quid tua nunc Isis mihi, Delia, quid mihi prosunt 

ilia tua totiens aera repulsa manu ? 
Nunc, dea, nunc succurre mihi (nam posse mederi 2 S 

picta docet templis multa tabella tuis), 
ut mea votivas persolvens Delia voces 

ante sacras lino tecta fores sedeat (3°) 

bisque die resoluta comas tibi dicere laudes 

insignis turba debeat in Pharia. 3° 

At mihi contingat patrios celebrare Penates 

reddereque antiquo menstrua tura Lari. 
Quam bene Saturno vivebant rege prius quam (35) 

tellus in longas est patefacta vias ! 
Nondum caeruleas pinus contempserat undas, 35 

effusum ventis praebueratque sinum, 
nee vagus ignotis repetens compendia terris 

presserat externa navita merce ratem. (4°) 

Illo non validus subiit iuga tempore taurus, 

non domito fraenos ore momordit equus, 4° 

non domus ulla fores habuit, non fixus in agris, 

qui regeret certis finibus arva, lapis. 
Ipsae mella dabant quercus, ultroque ferebant (45) 

obvia securis ubera lactis oves. 
Non acies, non ira fuit, non bella, nee ensem 45 

inmiti saevus duxerat arte faber. 
At love sub domino caedes et vulnera semper, 

nunc mare, nunc leti mille repente viae. (5°) 

Parce, pater : timidum non me periuria terrent, 

non dicta in sanctos impia verba deos. 5° 

Quod si fatales iam nunc explevimus annos, 

Fac lapis inscriptis stet super ossa notis, 



il] Tibulli Elegiac 55 

' hie iacet inmiti consumptus morte Tibullus, (55) 

Messalam terra dum sequiturque mari.' 
Sed me, quod facilis tenero sum semper Amori, 55 

ipsa Venus campos ducet in Elysios. 
Hie choreae cantusque vigent, passimque vagantes 

dulce sonant tenui gutture carmen aves, (60) 

fert casiam non culta seges, totosque per agros 

floret odoratis terra benigna rosis : 60 

ac iuvenum series teneris inmixta puellis 

ludit, et assidue praelia miscet Amor. 
Illic est, cuicumque rapax mors venit amanti, ( 6 5) 

et gerit insigni myrtea serta coma. 
At scelerata iacet sedes in nocte profunda 6 5 

abdita, quam circum flumina nigra sonant : 
Tisiphoneque impexa feros pro crinibus angues 

saevit, et hue illuc impia turba fugit : (70) 

tunc niger in porta serpentum Cerberus ore 

stridet et aeratas excubat ante fores. 1° 

Illic Iunonem temptare Ixionis ausi 

versantur celeri noxia membra rota, 
porrectusque novem Tityos per iugera terrae (75) 

assiduas atro viscere pascit aves. 
Tantalus est illic, et circum stagna : sed acrem 75 

iam iam poturi deserit unda sitim : 
et Danai proles, Veneris quod numina laesit, 

in cava Lethaeas dolia portat aquas. ( 8o ) 

Illic sit, quicumque meos violavit amores, 

optavit lentas et mihi militias. 80 

At tu casta precor maneas, sanctique pudoris 

assideat custos sedula semper anus. 
Haec tibi fabellas referat positaque lucerna ( 8 5) 

deducat plena stamina longa colo, 
ac circa gravibus pensis affixa puella 8 5 

paulatim somno fessa remittat opus. 
Turn veniam subito, nee quisquam nuntiet ante, 



56 Tibulli Elegiac [in. 

sed videar caelo missus adesse tibi. (90) 

Tunc mihi, qualis eris, longos turbata capillos, 

obvia nudato, Delia, curre pede. 9° 

Hoc precor, hunc ilium nobis Aurora nitentem 

Luciferum roseis Candida portet equis. 

in. 0.7.) 

Hunc cecinere diem Parcae fatalia nentes 

stamina non ulli dissoluenda deo ; 
hunc fore, Aquitanas posset qui fundere gentes, 

quern tremeret forti milite victus Atax. 
Evenere : novos pubes Romana triumphos 5 

vidit et evinctos brachia capta duces : 
at te victrices lauros, Messala, gerentem 

portabat niveis currus eburnus equis. 
Non sine me est tibi partus honos : Tarbella Pyrene 

testis et Oceani litora Santonici, IO 

testis Arar Rhodanusque celer magnusque Garumna, 

Carnoti et flavi caerula lympha Liger. 
An te, Cydne, canam, tacitis qui leniter undis 

caeruleus placidis per vada serpis aquis, 
quantus et aetherio contingens vertice nubes *5 

frigidus intonsos Taurus alat Cilicas ? 
Quid referam, ut volitet crebras intacta per urbes 

alba Palaestino sancta columba Syro, 
utque maris vastum prospectet turribus aequor 

prima ratem ventis credere docta Tyros, 2 o 

qualis et, arentes cum findit Sirius agros, 

fertilis aestiva Nilus abundet aqua? 
Nile pater, quanam possim te dicere causa 

aut quibus in terris occuluisse caput? 
Te propter nullos tellus tua postulat imbres, 25 

arida nee Pluvio supplicat herba Iovi. 
Te canit atque suum pubes miratur Osirim 



in.] Tibulli Elegiac 57 

barbara, Memphiten plangere docta bovem. 
Primus aratra manu sollerti fecit Osiris 

et teneram ferro sollicitavit humum, 3° 

primus inexpertae commisit semina terrae 

pomaque non notis legit ab arboribus. 
Hie docuit teneram palis adiungere vitem, 

hie viridem dura caedere falce comam : - 
illi iucundos primum matura sapores 35 

expressa incultis uva dedit pedibus. 
Ille liquor docuit voces inflectere cantu, 

movit et ad certos nescia membra modos, 
Bacchus et agricolae magno confecta labore 

pectora tristitiae dissoluenda dedit. 4° 

Bacchus et afflictis requiem mortalibus affert, 

crura licet dura compede pulsa sonent. 
Non tibi sunt tristes curae nee luctus, Osiri, 

sed chorus et cantus et levis aptus amor, 
sed varii flores et frons redimita corymbis, 45 

fusa sed ad teneros lutea palla pedes 
et Tyriae vestes et dulcis tibia cantu 

et levis occultis conscia cista sacris. 
Hue ades ad centum ludos Geniumque choreis 

concelebra et multo tempora funde mero : 5° 

illius et nitido stillent unguenta capillo, 

et capite et collo mollia serta gerat. 
Sic venias hodierne : tibi dem turis honores, 

liba et Mopsopio dulcia melle feram. 
At tibi succrescat proles, quae facta parentis 55 

augeat et circa stet veneranda senem. 
Nee taceat monumenta viae, quern Tuscula tellus 

candidaque antiquo detinet Alba Lare. 
Namque opibus congesta tuis hie glarea dura 

sternitur, hie apta iungitur arte silex. 60 

Te canit agricola, e magna cum venerit urbe 

sereus inoffensum rettuleritque pedem. 



58 Tibulli Elegiae. [iv. 

At tu, Natalis multos celebrande per annos, 
candidior semper candidiorque veni. 

IV. (i. 10.) 

Quis fuit, horrendos primus qui protulit enses ? 

Quam ferus et vere ferreus ille fuit ! 
Turn caedes hominum generi, turn praelia nata, 

turn brevior dirae mortis aperta via est. 
An nihil ille miser meruit ? nos ad mala nostra 5 

vertimus, in saevas quod dedit ille feras. 
Divitis hoc vitium est auri. Nee bella fuerunt, 

faginus astabat cum scyphus ante dapes, 
non arces, non vallus erat, somnumque petebat 

securus varias dux gregis inter oves. IO 

Tunc mihi vita foret, vulgi nee tristia nossem 

arma nee audissem corde micante tubam : 
nunc ad bella trahor, et iam quis forsitan hostis 

haesura in nostro tela gerit latere. 
Sed patrii servate Lares : aluistis et idem, *5 

cursarem vestros cum tener ante pedes. 
Neu pudeat prisco vos esse e stipite factos : 

sic veteris sedes incoluistis avi. 
Tunc melius tenuere fidem, cum paupere cultu 

stabat in exigua ligneus aede deus. 2° 

Hie placatus erat, seu quis libaverat uvam, 

seu dederat sanctae spicea serta comae : 
atque aliquis voti compos liba ipse ferebat 

postque comes purum filia parva favum. 
At nobis aerata, Lares, depellite tela, 2 S 

hostiaque e plena rustica porcus hara. 
Hanc pura cum veste sequar myrtoque canistra 

vincta geram, myrto vinctus et ipse caput. 
Sic placeam vobis : alius sit fortis in armis, 

sternat et adversos Marte favente duces, 3° 



v.] Tibulli Elegiae. 59 

ut mihi potanti possit sua dicere facta 

miles et in mensa pingere castra mero. 
Quis furor est atram bellis accersere mortem? 

Imminet et tacito clam venit ilia pede. 
Non seges est infra, non vinea culta, sed audax 35 

Cerberus et Stygiae navita turpis aquae : 
illic percussisque genis ustoque capillo 

errat ad obscuros pallida turba lacus. 
Quam potius laudandus hie est, quern prole parata 

occupat in parva pigra senecta casa ! 40 

Ipse suas sectatur oves, at nlius agnos, 

et calidam fesso comparat uxor aquam. 
Sic ego sim, liceatque caput candescere canis, 

temporis et prisci facta referre senem. 
Interea Pax arva colat. Pax Candida primum 45 

duxit araturos sub iuga panda boves, 
Pax aluit vites et sue cos condidit uvae, 

funderet ut nato testa paterna merum : 
Pace bidens vomerque vigent, at tristia duri 

militis in tenebris occupat arma situs, 5° 

rusticus e lucoque vehit, male sobrius ipse, 

uxorem plaustro progeniemque domum. 
At nobis, Pax alma, veni spicamque teneto, (67) 

perfluat et pomis candidus ante sinus. 

V. (hi.) 

Quisquis adest, valeat : fruges lustramus et agros, 

ritus ut a prisco traditus extat avo. 
Bacche, veni, dulcisque tuis e cornibus uva 

pendeat, et spicis tempora cinge, Ceres. 
Luce sacra requiescat humus, requiescat arator, 5 

et grave suspenso vomere cesset opus. 
Solvite vincla iugis : nunc ad praesepia debent 

plena coronato stare boves capite. 



6o Tibulli Elegiae. [v. 



IO 



Omnia sint operata deo : non audeat ulla 

lanificam pensis imposuisse manum. 
Casta placent superis : pura cum veste venite 

et manibus puris sumite fontis aquam. 
Cernite, fulgentes ut eat sacer agnus ad aras ( J 5) 

vinctaque post olea Candida turba comas. 
Dii patrii, purgamus agros, purgamus agrestes : J 5 

vos mala de nostris pellite limitibus, 
neu seges eludat messem fallacibus herbis, 

neu timeat celeres tardior agna lupos. i 20 ) 

Tunc nitidus plenis confisus rusticus agris 

ingeret ardenti grandia ligna foco, 2 ° 

turbaque vernarum, saturi bona signa coloni, 

ludet et ex virgis extruet ante casas. 
Eventura precor : viden ut felicibus extis ( 2 5) 

significet placidos nuntia fibra deos ? 
Nunc mihi fumosos veteris proferte Falernos 2 5 

consulis et Chio solvite vincla cado. 
Vina diem celebrent : non festa luce madere 

est rubor, errantes et male ferre pedes. (3°) 

Sed ' bene Messalarn' sua quisque ad pocula dicat 

nomen et absentis singula verba sonent. 3° 

Gentis Aquitanae celeber Messala triumphis 

et magna intonsis gloria victor avis, 
hue ades aspiraque mihi, dum carmine nostro (35) 

redditur agricolis gratia caelitibus. 
Rura cano rurisque deos. His vita magistris 35 

desuevit querna pellere glande famem : 
illi compositis primum docuere tigillis 

exiguam viridi fronde operire domum, (4°) 

illi etiam tauros primi docuisse feruntur 

servitium et plaustro supposuisse rotam. 4° 

Tunc victus abiere feri, tunc consita pomus, 

tunc bibit irriguas fertilis hortus aquas, 
aurea tunc pressos pedibus dedit uva liquores (45) 



v.] Tibulli Elegiae. 6l 

mixtaque securo est sobria lympha mero. 
Rura ferunt messes, calidi cum sideris aestu 45 

deponit flavas annua terra comas. 
Rure levis verno flores apis ingerit alveo, 

compieat ut dulci sedula melle favos. (5°) 

Agricola assiduo primum satiatus aratro 

cantavit certo rustica verba pede 5° 

et satur arenti primum est modulatus avena 

carmen, ut ornatos diceret ante deos, 
agricola et minio suffusus, Bacche, rubenti (55) 

primus inexperta duxit ab arte choros. 
Huic datus a pleno, memorabile munus, ovili 55 

dux pecoris hircus ; auxerat hircus oves. 
Rure puer verno primum de flore coronam 

fecit et antiquis imposuit Laribus. (6°) 

Rure etiam teneris curam exhibitura puellis 

molle gerit tergo lucida vellus ovis. 6° 

Hinc et femineus labor est, hinc pensa colusque, 

fusus et apposito pollice versat opus : 
atque aliqua assiduae textrix operata Minervae ( 6 5) 

cantat, et appulso tela sonat latere. 
Ipse quoque inter agros interque armenta Cupido 6 5 

natus et indomitas dicitur inter equas. 
Illic indocto primum se exercuit arcu : 

hei mihi, quam doctas nunc habet ille manus ! (7°) 

Ah miseri, quos hie graviter deus urget ! at ille 

felix, cui placidus leniter afnat Amor. 70(80) 

Sancte, veni dapibus festis, sed pone sagittas 

et procul ardentes hinc precor abde faces. 
Ludite : iam Nox iungit equos, currumque sequuntur 

matris lascivo sidera fulva choro, 
postque venit tacitus furvis circumdatus alis 75 

somnus et incerto Somnia nigra pede. (9°) 



62 Tibulli Elegiac [vi. vii. 



VI. (II. 2.) 

Dicamus bona verba : venit Natalis ad aras : 

quisquis ades, lingua, vir mulierque, fave. 
Urantur pia tura focis, urantur odores, 

quos tener e terra divite mittit Arabs. 
Ipse suos Genius adsit visurus honores, 5 

cui decorent sanctas mollia serta comas. 
Illius puro destillent tempora nardo, 

atque satur libo sit madeatque mero, 
annuat et, Cornute, tibi, quodcumque rogabis. 

En age, quid cessas ? annuit ille : roga. *° 

Auguror, uxoris fidos optabis amores : 

iam reor hoc ipsos edidicisse deos. 
Nee tibi malueris, totum quaecumque per orbem 

fortis arat valido rusticus arva bove, 
nee tibi, gemmarum quicquid felicibus Indis X S 

nascitur, Eoi qua maris unda rubet. 
Vota cadunt. Utinam strepitantibus advolet alis 

flavaque coniugio vincula portet Amor, 
vincula, quae maneant semper, dum tarde senectus 

inducat rugas inficiatque comas. 20 

Hie veniat Natalis avis prolemque ministret, 

ludat et ante tuos turba novella pedes. 

VII. (n. S .) 

Phoebe, fave : novus ingreditur tua templa sacerdos : 

hue age cum cithara carminibusque veni. 
Nunc te vocales impellere pollice chordas, 

nunc precor ad laudes flectere verba mea. 
Ipse triumphali devinctus tempora lauro, 5 

dum cumulant aras, ad tua sacra veni. 
Sed nitidus pulcherque veni : nunc indue vestem 

sepositam, longas nunc bene pecte comas, 



vii.] Tibulli Elegiac 63 

qualem te memorant Saturno rege fugato 

victori laudes concinuisse Iovi. 10 

Tu procul eventura vides, tibi deditus augur 

scit bene quid fati provida cantet avis, 
tuque regis sortes, per te praesentit aruspex, 

lubrica signavit cum deus exta notis : 
te duce Romanos numquam frustrata Sibylla X S 

abdita quae senis fata canit pedibus ! 
Phoebe, sacras Messalinum sine tangere chartas 

vatis, et ipse precor quod canat ilia doce. 
Haec dedit Aeneae sortes, postquam ille parentem 

dicitur et raptos sustinuisse Lares, 20 

nee fore credebat Romam, eum maestus ab alto 

Ilion ardentes respiceretque deos. 
(Romulus aeternae nondum firmaverat urbis 

moenia, consorti non habitanda Remo, 
sed tunc pascebant herbosa Palatia vaccae 2 5 

et stabant humiles in Iovis arce casae. 
Lacte madens illic suberat Pan ilicis umbrae 

et facta agresti lignea fake Pales, 
pendebatque vagi pastoris in arbore votum, 

garrula silvestri fistula sacra deo, 3° 

fistula, cui semper decrescit arundinis ordo : 

nam calamus cera iungitur usque minor. 
At qua Velabri regio patet, ire solebat 

exiguus pulla per vada linter aqua.) 
1 Impiger Aenea, volitantis frater Amoris, 35 

Troica qui profugis sacra vehis ratibus, (40) 

iam tibi Laurentes assignat Iuppiter agros, 

iam vocat errantes hospita terra Lares. 
Illic sanctus eris, cum te veneranda Numici 

unda deum caelo miserit Indigetem. 4° 

Ecce super fessas volitat Victoria puppes, (45) 

tandem ad Troianos diva superba venit. 
Ecce mihi lucent Rutulis incendia castris : 



64 Tibulli Elegiae. [vn. 

iam tibi praedico, barbare Turne, necem. 
Ante oculos Laurens castrum murusque Lavini est 45 

Albaque ab Ascanio condita longa duce. (5°) 

Te quoque iam video, Marti placitura sacerdos 

Ilia, Vestales deseruisse focos. 
Carpite nunc, tauri, de septem montibus herbas, (55) 

dum licet : hie magnae iam locus urbis erit. 5° 

Roma, tuum nomen terris fatale regendis, 

qua sua de caelo prospicit arva Ceres, 
quaque patent ortus et qua fluitantibus undis 

solis anhelantes abluit amnis equos. (60) 

Troia quidem tunc se mirabitur et sibi dicet 55 

vos bene tarn longa consuluisse via. 
Vera cano : sic usque sacras innoxia laurus 

vescar, et aeternum sit mihi virginitas.' 
Haec cecinit vates et te sibi, Phoebe, vocavit, ( 6 5) 

iactavit fusas et caput ante comas. 6° 

Quicquid Amalthea, quicquid Marpessia dixit, 

Herophile Phoebo grata quod admonuit, 
quasque Albana sacras Tiberis per flumina sortes 

portarit sicco pertuleritque sinu : (70) 

(hae fore dixerunt belli mala signa, cometen, 6 5 

multus ut in terras deplueretque lapis : 
atque tubas atque arma ferunt strepitantia caelo 

audita et lucos praecinuisse fugam ; 
et simulacra deum lacrimas fudisse tepentes (75) 

fataque vocales praemonuisse boves, 70 

ipsum etiam Solem defectum lumine vidit 

iungere pallentes nubilus annus equos) 
haec fuerant olim : sed tu iam mitis, Apollo, 

prodigia indomitis merge sub aequoribus, ( 8o ) 

et succensa sacris crepitet bene laurea flammis, 75 

omine quo felix et sacer annus erit. 
Laurus ubi bona signa dedit, gaudete coloni : 

distendet spicis horrea plena Ceres, 






viii.] Tibulli Elegiac 65 

oblitus et musto feriet pede rusticus uvas, ( 8 5) 

dolia dum magni deficiantque lacus. 8o 

Ac madidus Baccho sua festa Palilia pastor 

concinet : a stabulis tunc procul este lupi. 
Ille levis stipulae solemnis potus acervos 

accendet, flammas transilietque sacras, (9°) 

et fetus matrona dabit, natusque parenti 8 S 

oscula comprensis auribus eripiet, 
nee taedebit avum parvo advigilare nepoti 

balbaque cum puero dicere verba senem. 
Tunc operata deo pubes discumbet in herba, (95) 

arboris antiquae qua levis umbra cadit, 90 

aut e veste sua tendent umbrae ula sertis 

vincta, coronatus stabit et ante calix. 
At sibi quisque dapes et festas extruet alte 

cespitibus mensas cespitibusque torum. ( I0 °) 

Pace tua pereant arcus pereantque sagittae, 95 ( IQ 5) 

Phoebe, modo in terris erret inermis Amor. 
Ars bona : sed postquam sumpsit sibi tela Cupido, 

heu heu quam multis ars dedit ilia malum ! 
At tu (nam divum servat tutela poetas), 

praemoneo, vati parce, puella, sacro, I0 ° 

ut Messalinum celebrem, cum praemia belli ("5) 

ante suos curros oppida victa feret, 
ipse gerens lauros : lauro devinctus agresti 

miles i io ' magna voce ' triumphe ' canet. 
Turn Messala meus pia det spectacula turbae io 5 

et plaudat curru praetereunte pater. ( I2 °) 

Annue : sic tibi sint intonsi, Phoebe, capilli, 

sic tua perpetuo sit tibi casta soror. 

VIII. (in. 3.) 

Quid prodest caelum votis implesse, Neaera, 
multaque cum blanda tura dedisse prece, 



66 Tibulli Elegiae. [vin. 

non ut marmorei prodirem e limine tecti, 

insignis clara conspicuusque domo, 
aut ut multa mei renovarent iugera tauri 5 

et magnas messes terra benigna daret, 
sed tecum ut longe sociarem gaudia vitae 

inque tuo caderet nostra senecta sinu 
tunc cum permenso defunctus tempore lucis 

nudus Lethaea cogerer ire rate ? IO 

Nam grave quid prodest pondus mihi divitis auri, 

arvaque si findant pinguia mille boves ? 
Quidve domus prodest Phrygiis innixa columnis, 

Taenare sive tuis, sive Caryste tuis, 
et nemora in domibus sacros imitantia lucos *S 

aurataeque trabes marmoreumque solum? 
Quidve in Erythraeo legitur quae litore concha 

tinctaque Sidonio murice lana iuvat, 
et quae praeterea populus miratur? in illis 

invidia est : falso plurima vulgus amat. 20 

Non opibus mentes hominum curaeque levantur : 

nam Fortuna sua tempora lege regit. 
Sit mihi paupertas tecum iucunda, Neaera : 

at sine te regum munera nulla volo. 
O niveam, quae te poterit mihi reddere, lucem ! 2 S 

o mihi felicem terque quarterque diem ! 
At si, pro dulci reditu quaecumque voventur, 

audiat aversa non meus aure deus, 
nee me regna iuvant nee Lydius aurifer amnis 

nee quas terrarum sustinet orbis opes. 3° 

Haec alii cupiant, liceat mihi paupere cultu 

securo cara coniuge posse frui. 
Adsis et timidis faveas, Saturnia, votis, 

et faveas concha, Cypria, vecta tua. 
Aut si fata negant reditum tristesque sorores, 35 

stamina quae ducunt quaeque futura neunt, 
me vocet in vastos amnes nigramque paludem 

dives in ignava luridus Orcus aqua. 



ix.] Tibulli Elegiae. 67 

IX. (in. 5.) 

Vos tenet, Etruscis manat quae fontibus unda, 

unda sub aestivum non adeunda Canem, 
nunc autem sacris Baiarum proxima lymphis, 

cum se purpureo vere remittit humus : 
at mihi Persephone nigram denuntiat horam : 5 

inmerito iuveni parce nocere, dea. 
Non ego tentavi nulli temeranda virorum 

audax laudandae sacra docere deae, 
nee mea mortiferis infecit pocula succis 

dextera nee cuiquam trita venena dedit, IO 

nee nos sacrilegi templis admovimus ignes, 

nee cor sollicitant facta nefanda meum, 
nee nos insanae meditantes iurgia mentis 

impia in adversos solvimus ora deos : 
et nondum cani nigros laesere capillos, *5 

nee venit tardo curva senecta pede. 
Natalem primo nostrum videre parentes, 

cum cecidit fato consul uterque pari. 
Quid fraudare iuvat vitem crescentibus uvis 

et modo nata mala vellere poma manu ? 20 

Parcite, pallentes undas quicumque tenetis 

duraque sortiti tertia regna dei. 
Elysios olim liceat cognoscere campos 

Lethaeamque ratem Cimmeriosque lacus, 
cum mea rugosa pallebunt ora senecta 2 S 

et referam pueris tempora prisca senex. 
Atque utinam vano nequicquam terrear aestu ! 

languent ter quinos sed mea membra dies. 
At vobis Tuscae celebrantur numina lymphae 

et facilis lenta pellitur unda manu. 3° 

Vivite felices, memores et vivite nostri, 

sive erimus seu nos fata fuisse velint. 
Interea nigras pecudes promittite Diti 

et nivei lactis pocula mixta mero. 



68 Tibulli Elegiae. [x. 

X. (IV. 2.) 

Sulpicia est tibi culta tuis, Mars magne, kalendis : 

spectatum e caelo, si sapis, ipse veni. 
Hoc Venus ignoscet : at tu, violente, caveto 

ne tibi miranti turpiter arma cadant. 
Illius ex oculis, cum vult exurere divos, 5 

accendit geminas lampadas acer Amor. 
Illam, quicquid agit, quoquo vestigia movit, 

componit furtim subsequiturque Decor. 
Seu solvit crines, fusis decet esse capillis : 

seu compsit, comptis est veneranda comis. I0 

Urit, seu Tyria voluit procedere palla : 

urit, seu nivea Candida veste venit. 
Talis in aeterno felix Vertumnus Olympo 

mille habet ornatus, mille decenter habet. 
Sola puellarum digna est, cui mollia caris *5 

vellera det succis bis madefacta Tyros, 
possideatque, metit quicquid bene olentibus arvis 

cultor odoratae dives Arabs segetis 
et quascumque niger rubro de litore gemmas 

proximus Eois colligit Indus aquis. 20 

Hanc vos, Pierides, festis cantate kalendis, 

et testudinea Phoebe superbe lyra. 
Hoc solemne sacrum : multos hoc sumet in annos : 

dignior est vestro nulla puella choro. 



SEX. PROPERTII ELEGIAE. 



I. (I. 2.) 

QUID iuvat ornato procedere, vita, capillo 
et tenues Coa veste movere sinus ? 
aut quid Orontea crines perfundere murra, 

teque peregrinis vendere muneribus, 
naturaeque decus mercato perdere cultu 5 

nee sinere in propriis membra nitere bonis ? 
Crede mihi, non ulla tuae est medicina figurae : 

nudus Amor formae non amat artincem. 
Aspice quos summittit humus formosa coleres, 

ut veniant hederae sponte sua melius, I0 

surgat et in solis formosius arbutus antris, 

et sciat indociles currere lympha vias. 
Litora nativis collucent picta lapillis 

et volucres nulla dulcius arte canunt. 
Non sic Leucippis succendit Castora Phoebe, *5 

Pollucem cultu non Hilaira soror, 
non, Idae et cupido quondam discordia Phoebo, 

Eueni patriis filia litoribus, 
nee Phrygium falso traxit candore maritum 

avecta externis Hippodamia rotis ; 2° 

sed fades aderat nullis obnoxia gemmis, 

qualis Apelleis est color in tabulis. 
Non illis studium vulgo conquirere amantes : 

illis ampla satis forma pudicitia. 
Non ego nunc vereor, ne sim tibi vilior istis : 2 5 

uni si qua placet, culta puella sat est, 
69 



70 Propertii Elegiae. [n. 

cum tibi praesertim Phoebus sua carmina donet 

Aoniamque libens Calliopea lyram, 
unica nee desit iocundis gratia verbis, 

omnia quaeque Venus quaeque Minerva probat. 30 
His tu semper eris nostrae gratissima vitae, 

Taedia dum miserae sint tibi luxuriae. 



11. (1. i 9 .) 

Non ego nunc tristes vereor, mea Cynthia, Manes, 

nee moror extremo debita fata rogo ; 
sed ne forte tuo careat mihi funus amore, 

hie timor est ipsis durior exequiis. 
Non adeo leviter nostris puer haesit ocellis, 5 

ut meus oblito pulvis amore vacet. 
Illic Phylacides iocundae coniugis heros 

non potuit caecis inmemor esse locis, 
sed cupidus falsis attingere gaudia palmis 

Thessalis antiquam venerat umbra domum. IO 

Illic quicquid ero, semper tua dicar imago : 

traicit et fati litora magnus Amor. 
Illic formosae veniant chorus heroinae, 

quas dedit Argivis Dardana praeda viris ; 
quarum nulla tua fuerit mihi, Cynthia, forma X S 

gratior ; et Tellus hoc ita iusta sinat. 
Quamvis te longae remorentur fata senectae, 

cara tamen lacrimis ossa futura meis : 
quae tu viva mea possis sentire favilla ! 

Turn mihi non ullo mors sit amara loco. 20 

Quam vereor, ne te contempto, Cynthia, busto 

abstrahat a nostro pulvere iniquus Amor, 
cogat et invitam lacrimas siccare cadentes ! 

Flectitur assiduis certa puella minis. 
Quare, dum licet, inter nos laetemur amantes : 2 S 

non satis est ullo tempore longus amor. 



in. iv.] Propertii Elegiae. 7 1 

III. (m. i.) 

Sed tempus lustrare aliis Helicona choreis, 

et campum Haemonio iam dare tempus equo. 
lam libet et fortes memorare ad proelia turmas 

et Romana mei dicere castra ducis. 
Quod si deficiant vires, audacia certe 5 

laus erit : in magnis et voluisse sat est. 
Aetas prima canat Veneres, extrema tumultus. 

Bella canam, quando scripta puella mea est. 
Nunc volo subducto gravior procedere vultu, 

nunc aliam citharam me mea Musa docet. IO 

Surge, anima, ex humili iam carmine, sumite vires, 

Pierides : magni nunc erit oris opus. 
Iam negat Euphrates equitem post terga tueri 

Parthorum et Crassos se tenuisse dolet : 
India quin, Auguste, tuo dat colla triumpho, *5 

et domus intactae te tremit Arabiae : 
et si qua extremis tellus se subtrahit oris, 

sentiet ilia tuas postmodo capta manus. 
Haec ego castra sequar : vates tua castra canendo 

magnus ero : servent hunc mihi fata diem ! 20 

Ut caput in magnis ubi non est tangere signis, 

ponitur hie imos ante corona pedes, 
sic nos nunc, inopes laudis conscendere carmen, 

pauperibus sacris vilia tura damus. 
Nondum etiam Ascraeos norunt mea carmina fontes, 25 

sed modo Permesi flumine lavit Amor. 

IV. (in. 23.) 

Quaeris, cur veniam tibi tardior. Aurea Phoebi 

porticus a magno Caesare aperta fuit. 
Tota erat in speciem Poenis digesta columnis, 

inter quas Danai femina turba senis. 



72 Propertii Elegiae. v.] 

Hie equidem Phoebo visus mihi pulchrior ipso 5 

marmoreus tacita carmen hiare lyra : 
atque aram circum steterant armenta Myronis, 

quattuor artifices, vivida signa, boves. 
Turn medium claro surgebat marmore templum 

et patria Phoebo carius Ortygia. I0 

In quo Solis erat supra fastigia currus, 

et valvae, Libyci nobile dentis opus, 
altera deiectos Parnasi vertice Gallos, 

altera maerebat funera Tantalidos. 
Deinde inter matrem deus ipse interque sororem *5 

Pythius in longa carmina veste sonat. 

V. (iv. i.) 

Callimachi Manes et Coi sacra Philetae, 

in vestrum, quaeso, me sinite ire nemus. 
Primus ego ingredior puro de fonte sacerdos 

Itala per Graios orgia ferre choros. 
Dicite, quo pariter carmen tenuastis in antro ? 5 

quove pede ingressi? quamve bibistis aquam? 
Ah valeat, Phoebum quicumque moratur in armis ! 

exactus tenui pumice versus eat, 
quo me Fama levat terra sublimis, et a me 

nata coronatis Musa triumphat equis, IO 

et mecum in curru parvi vectantur Amores, 

scriptorumque meas turba secuta rotas. 
Quid frustra missis in me certatis habenis ? 

Non datur ad Musas currere lata via. 
Multi, Roma, tuas laudes annalibus addent, *5 

qui finem imperii Bactra futura canent. 
Sed, quod pace legas, opus hoc de monte sororum 

detulit intacta pagina nostra via. 
Mollia, Pegasides, date vestro serta poetae : 

non faciet capiti dura corona meo. 2° 



vi.] Propertii Elegiae. 73 

At mihi quod vivo detraxerit invida turba, 

post obitum duplici fenore reddet Honos. 
Omnia post obitum fingit maiora vetustas, 

maius ab exequiis nomen in ora venit. 
Nam quis equo pulsas abiegno nosceret arces, 2 5 

fluminaque Haemonio cominus isse viro, 
Idaeum Simoenta Iovis cunabula parvi, 

Hectora per campos ter maculasse rotas ? 
Deiphobumque Helenumque et Polydamanta et in armis 

quaiemcumque Parin vix sua nosset humus. 3° 

Exiguo sermone fores nunc, Ilion et tu 

Troia bis Oetaei numine capta dei. 
Nee non ille tui casus memorator Homerus 

posteritate suum crescere sensit opus. 
Meque inter seros laudabit Roma nepotes : 35 

ilium post cineres auguror ipse diem. 
Ne mea contempto lapis indicet ossa sepulcro, 

provisum est Lycio vota probante deo. 
Carminis interea nostri redeamus in orbem, 

gaudeat ut solito tacta puella sono. 40 

VI. (rv. 2.) 

Orphea detinuisse feras et concita dicunt 

flumina Threicia sustinuisse lyra : 
saxa Cithaeronis Thebas agitata per artem 

sponte sua in muri membra coisse ferunt : 
quin etiam, Polypheme, fera Galatea sub Aetna 5 

ad tua rorantes carmina flexit equos : 
miremur, nobis et Baccho et Apolline dextro 

turba puellarum si mea verba colit ? 
Quod non Taenariis domus est mihi fulta columnis, 

nee camera auratas inter eburna trabes, 10 

nee mea Phaeacas aequant pomaria silvas, 

non operosa rigat Marcius antra liquor ; 



74 Propertii Elegiac. [vii. 

at Musae comites et carmina cara legenti, 

et defessa choris Calliopea meis. 
Fortunata, meo si qua est celebrata libello ! J S 

carmina erunt formae tot monimenta tuae. 
Nam neque Pyramidum sumptus ad sidera ducti, 

nee Iovis Elei caelum imitata domus, 
nee Mausolei dives fortuna sepulcri 

mortis ab extrema condicione vacant. 20 

Aut illis flamma aut imber subducet honores, 

annorum aut ictu pondera victa ruent. 
At non ingenio quaesitum nomen ab aevo 

excidet : ingenio stat sine morte decus. 

VII. (iv. 4.) 

Arma deus Caesar dites meditatur ad Indos, 

et freta gemmiferi fmdere classe maris. 
Magna, viri, merces : parat ultima terra triumphos : 

Tigris et Euphrates sub tua iura fluent : 
sera, sed Ausoniis veniet provincia virgis : 5 

adsuescent Latio Partha tropaea Iovi. 
Ite agite, expertae bello date lintea prorae 

et solitum armigeri ducite munus equi. 
Omina fausta cano : Crassos clademque piate : 

ite et Romanae consulite historiae. 1° 

Mars pater et sacrae fatalia lumina Vestae, 

ante meos obitus sit, precor, ilia dies, 
qua videam spoliis oneratos Caesaris axes, 

ad vulgi plausus saepe resistere equos, 
tela fugacis equi et braccati militis arcus x 5 

et subter captos arma sedere duces. 
Ipsa tuam serva prolem, Venus : hoc sit in aevum, 

cernis ab Aenea quod superesse caput. (20) 

Praeda sit haec illis, quorum meruere labores : 

me sat erit Sacra plaudere posse Via. 20 



vnij Propertii Elegiac 75 

VIII. (iv. 5 .) 

Pacis Amor deus est, pacem veneramur amantes. 

Stant mihi cum domina proelia dura mea : 
nee tamen inviso pectus mihi carpitur auro, 

nee bibit e gemma divite nostra sitis, 
nee mihi mille iugis Campania pinguis aratur, 5 

nee miser aera paro clade, Corinthe, tua. 
O prima infelix fmgenti terra Prometheo ! 

Ille parum cauti pectoris egit opus : 
corpora disponens mentem non vidit in arte. 

Recta animi primum debuit esse via. I0 

Nunc maris in tantum vento iactamur, et hostem 

quaerimus, atque armis nectimus arma nova. 
Haud ullas portabis opes Acherontis ad undas : 

nudus ad infernas, stulte, vehere rates. 
Victor cum victis pariter miscebitur umbris : *5 

consule cum Mario, capte Iugurtha, sedes. 
Lydus Dulichio non distat Croesus ab Iro : 

optima mors, Parcae quae venit acta die. 
Me iuvat in prima coluisse Helicona iuventa 

Musarumque choris inplicuisse manus : 2° 

me iuvat et multo mentem vincire Lyaeo 

et caput in verna semper habere rosa. 
Atque ubi iam Venerem gravis interceperit aetas, 

sparserit et nigras alba senecta comas, 
turn mihi Naturae libeat perdiscere mores, 25 

quis deus hanc mundi temperet arte domum, 
qua venit exoriens, qua deficit, unde coactis 

cornibus in plenum menstrua luna redit, 
unde salo superant venti, quid flamine captet 

Eurus, et in nubes unde perennis aqua, 3° 

sit ventura dies, mundi quae subruat arces, 

purpureus pluvias cur bibit arcus aquas, 
aut cur Perrhaebi tremuere cacumina Pindi, 



76 Propertii Elegiae. [ix. 

solis et atratis luxerit orbis equis, 
cur serus versare boves et plaustra Bootes, 35 

Pleiadum spisso cur coit igne chorus, 
curve suos fines altum non exeat aequor, 

plenus et in partes quattuor annus eat, 
sub terris sint iura deum et tormenta Gigantum, 

Tisiphones atro si furit angue caput, 4° 

aut Alcmaeoniae furiae aut ieiunia Phinei, 

num rota, num scopuli, num sitis inter aquas, 
num tribus infernum custodit faucibus antrum 

Cerberus, et Tityo iugera pauca novem, 
an flcta in miseras descendit fabula gentes, 45 

et timor haud ultra quam rogus esse potest. 
Exitus hie vitae superet mihi : vos, quibus arma 

grata magis, Crassi signa referte domum. 



IX. (iv. 7 .) 

Ergo sollicitae tu causa, Pecunia, vitae es : 

per te inmaturum mortis adimus iter. 
Tu vitiis hominum crudelia pabula praebes : 

semina curarum de capite orta tuo. 
Tu Paetum ad Pharios tendentem lintea portus 5 

obruis insano terque quaterque mari. 
Nam dum te sequitur, primo miser excidit aevo 

et nova longinquis piscibus esca natat, 
et mater non iusta piae dare debita terrae 

nee pote cognatos inter humare rogos, IO 

sed tua nunc volucres astant super ossa marinae, 

nunc tibi pro tumulo Carpathium omne mare est. 
Infelix Aquilo, raptae timor Orithyiae, 

quae spolia ex illo tanta fuere tibi ? 
aut quidnam fracta gaudes, Neptune, carina? *5 

Portabat sanctos alveus ille viros. 



ix.] Propertii Elegiac JJ 

Paete, quid aetatem numeras ? quid cara natanti 

mater in ore tibi est ? non habet unda deos. 
Nam tibi nocturnis ad saxa ligata procellis 

omnia detrito vincula fune cadunt. 2 ° 

Sunt Agamemnonias testantia litora curas, 

quae notat Argynni poena Athamantiadae. 
Hoc iuvene amisso classem non solvit Atrides, 

pro qua mactata est Iphigenia mora. 
Reddite corpus humo, positaque in gurgite vita 2 5 

Paetum sponte tua, vilis harena, tegas, 
et quotiens Paeti transibit nauta sepulcrum, 

dicat ' et audaci tu timor esse potes.' 
Ite, rates curvas et leti texite causas : 

ista per humanas mors venit acta manus. 3° 

Terra parum fuerat fatis, adiccimus undas : 

fortunae miseras auximus arte vias. 
Ancora te teneat, quern non tenuere Penates ? 

quid meritum dicas, cui sua terra parum est? 
ventorum est, quodcumque paras : haud ulla carina 35 

consenuit, fallit portus et ipse fidem. 
Natura insidians pontum substravit avaris : 

ut tibi succedat, vix semel esse potest. 
Saxa triumphales fregere Capharea puppes, 

naufraga cum vasto Graecia tracta salo est. 4° 

Paullatim socium iacturam flevit Ulixes, 

in mare cui soliti non valuere doli. 
Quod si contentus patrio bove verteret agros, 

verbaque duxisset pondus habere mea, 
viveret ante suos dulcis conviva Penates, 45 

pauper, at in terra, nil ubi flare potest. 
Non tulit hie Paetus stridorem audire procellae 

et duro teneras laedere fune manus, 
sed Chio thalamo aut Oricia terebintho 

et fultum pluma versicolore caput. 5° 

Huic fluctus vivo radicitus abstulit ungues, 



?8 Propertii Elegiae. [x. 

et miser invisam traxit hiatus aquam : 
hunc parvo ferri vidit nox improba ligno. 

Paetus ut occideret, tot coiere mala. 
Flens tamen extremis dedit haec mandata querellis, 55 

cum moribunda niger clauderet ora liquor : 
' di maris Aegaei quos sunt penes aequora, Venti, 

et quaecumque meum degravat unda caput, 
quo rapitis miseros tenerae lanuginis annos ? 

Attulimus longas in freta vestra manus. 6° 

Ah miser alcyonum scopulis adfligar acutis : 

in me caeruleo fuscina sumpta deo est. 
At saltern Italiae regionibus advehat aestus ; 

hoc de me sat erit si modo matris erik' 
Subtrahit haec fantem torta vertigine fluctus ; 6 5 

ultima quae Paeto voxque diesque fuit. 
O centum aequoreae Nereo genitore puellae, 

et tu materno tacta dolore Theti, 
vos decuit lasso supponere brachia mento : 

non poterat vestras ille gravare manus. 7° 

X. (iv. 9 .) 

Maecenas, eques Etrusco de sanguine regum, 

intra fortunam qui cupis esse tuam, 
quid me scribendi tarn vastum mittis in aequor? 

Non sunt apta meae grandia vela rati. 
Turpe est, quod nequeas, capiti committere pondus 5 

et pressum inflexo mox dare terga genu. 
Omnia non pariter rerum sunt omnibus apta, 

fama nee ex aequo ducitur ulla iugo. 
Gloria Lysippo est animosa effingere signa, 

exactis Calamis se mihi iactat equis, IO 

in Veneris tabula summam sibi ponit Apelles, 

Parrhasius parva vindicat arte locum, 
argumenta magis sunt Mentoris addita formae, 



x.] Profiertii Elegiae. 79 

at My os exiguum flectit acanthus iter, 
Phidiacus signo se Iuppiter ornat eburno, X S 

Praxitelen propria vindicat urbe lapis. 
Est quibus Eleae concurrit palma quadrigae, 

est quibus in celeres gloria nata pedes ; 
hie satus ad pacem, hie castrensibus utilis armis : 

naturae sequitur semina quisque suae. 2 ° 

At tua, Maecenas, vitae praecepta recepi, 

cogor et exemplis te superare tuis. 
Cum tibi Romano dominas in honore secures 

et liceat medio ponere iura foro, 
vel tibi Medorum pugnaces ire per hostes 2 5 

atque onerare tuam fixa per arma domum, 
et tibi ad effectum vires det Caesar et omni 

tempore tarn faciles insinuentur opes, 
parcis et in tenues humilem te colligis umbras : 

velorum plenos subtrahis ipse sinus. 3° 

Crede mihi, magnos aequabunt ista Camillos 

iudicia et venies tu quoque in ora virum, 
Caesaris et famae vestigia iuncta tenebis : 

Maecenatis erunt vera tropaea fides. 
Non ego velifera tumidum mare findo carina : 35 

tota sub exiguo flumine nostra mora est. 
Non flebo in cineres arcem sedisse paternos 

Cadmi nee septem proelia clade pari, 
nee referam Scaeas et Pergama Apollinis arces, 

et Danaum decimo vere redisse rates, 40 

moenia cum Graio Neptunia pressit aratro 

victor Palladiae ligneus artis equus. 
Inter Callimachi sat erit placuisse libellos 

et cecinisse modis, Coe poeta, tuis. 
Te duce vel Iovis arma canam caeloque minantem 45 

Coeum et Phlegraeis Oromedonta iugis, 
celsaque Romanis decerpta palatia tauris 

ordiar et caeso moenia firma Remo, (5°) 



80 Propei'tii Elegiae. [xi. 

eductos pares silvestri ex ubere reges, 

crescet et ingenium sub tua iussa meum, 5° 

prosequar et currus utroque ab litore ovantes, 

Parthorum astutae tela remissa fugae, 
castraque Pelusi Romano subruta ferro, (55) 

Antonique graves in sua fata manus. 
Mollis tu coeptae fautor cape lora iuventae, 55 

dexteraque inmissis da mihi signa rotis. 
Hoc mihi, Maecenas, laudis concedis, et a te est, 

quod ferar in partes ipse fuisse tuas. ( 6o ) 

XL (iv. 12.) 

Postume, plorantem potuisti linquere Gallam, 

miles et Augusti fortia signa sequi? 
Tantine ulla fuit spoliati gloria Parthi, 

ne faceres Galla multa rogante tua ? 
Si fas est, omnes pariter pereatis avari, 5 

et quisquis fido praetulit arma toro ! 
Tu tamen iniecta tectus, vesane, lacerna 

potabis galea fessus Araxis aquam. 
Ilia quidem interea fama tabescet inani, 

haec tua ne virtus fiat amara tibi, IO 

neve tua Medae laetentur caede sagittae, 

ferreus aurato neu cataphractus equo, 
neve aliquid de te flendum referatur in urna : 

sic redeunt, illis qui cecidere locis. 
Ter quater in casta felix o Postume Galla, *5 

moribus his alia coniuge dignus eras. 
Quid faciet nullo munita puella timore, 

cum sit luxuriae Roma magistra suae ? 
Sed securus eas : Gallam non munera vincent, 

duritiaeque tuae non erit ilia memor. 2 ° 

Nam quocumque die salvum te fata remittent, 

pendebit collo Galla pudica tuo. 



xil] Propertii Elegiac 8 1 

Postumus alter erit miranda coniuge Ulixes. 

Non illi longae tot nocuere morae, 
castra decern annorum, et Ciconum mons Ismara, Calpe, 

exustaeque tuae mox, Polypheme, genae, 26 

et Circes fraudes, lotosque herbaeque tenaces, 

Scyllaque et alternas scissa Charybdis aquas, 
Lampeties Ithacis verubus mugisse iuvencos 

(paverat hos Phoebo filia Lampetie), 3° 

et thalamum Aeaeae flentis fugisse puellae, 

totque hiemis noctes totque natasse dies, 
nigrantisque domos animarum intrasse silentum, 

Sirenum surdo remige adisse lacus, 
et veteres arcus leto renovasse procorum, 35 

errorisque sui sic statuisse modum. 
Nee frustra, quia casta domi persederat uxor. 

Vincit Penelopes Aelia Galla fidem. 

XII. (iv. 18.) 

Clausus ab umbroso qua ludit pontus Averno, 

fumida Baiarum stagna tepentis aquae, 
qua iacet et Troiae tubicen Misenus harena, 

et sonat Herculeo structa labore via, 
hie, ubi, mortalis dextra cum quaereret urbes, 5 

cymbala Thebano concrepuere deo, 
at nunc invisae magno cum crimine Baiae, 

quis deus in vestra constitit hostis aqua? 
his pressus Stygias vultum demisit in undas, 

errat et in vestro spiritus ille lacu. I0 

Quid genus aut virtus aut optima profuit illi 

mater, et amplexum Caesaris esse focos ? 
aut modo tarn pleno fluitantia vela theatro 

et per maternas omnia gesta manus ? 
Occidit, et misero steterat vigesimus annus : J S 

tot bona tarn parvo clausit in orbe dies. 



82 Propertii Elegiae. [xin. 

I nunc, tolle animos et tecum finge triumphos, 

stantiaque in plausum tota theatra iuvent, 
Attalicas supera vestes, atque omnia magnis 



gemmea sint ludis : ignibus ista dabis. 



20 



Sed tamen hue omnes, hue primus et ultimus ordo : 

est mala, sed cunctis ista terenda via est. 
Exoranda canis tria sunt latrantia colla, 

scandenda est torvi publica cymba senis. 
Ille licet ferro cautus se condat et aere, 2 5 

mors tamen inclusum protrahit inde caput. 
Nirea non facies, non vis exemit Achillem, 

Croesum aut, Pactoli quas parit humor, opes. 
Hie olim ignaros luctus populavit Achivos, 

Atridae magno cum stetit alter amor. 3° 

At tibi, nauta, pias hominum qui traicit umbras, 

hue animae portet corpus inane tuae, 
qua Siculae victor telluris Claudius et qua 

Caesar ab humana cessit in astra via. 

XIII. (iv. 22.) 

Frigida tam multos placuit tibi Cyzicus annos, 

Tulle, Propontiaca qua fluit Isthmos aqua, 
Dindymus, et sacrae fabricata iuvenca Cybebae, 

raptorisque tulit qua via Ditis equos. 
Si te forte iuvant Helles Athamantidos urbes, 5 

nee desiderio, Tulle, movere meo : 
tu licet aspicias caelum omne Atlanta gerentem, 

sectaque Persea Phorcidos ora manu, 
Geryonae stabula et luctantum in pulvere signa 

Herculis Antaeique Hesperidumque choros, » 

tuque tuo Colchum propellas remige Phasin, 

Peliacaeque trabis totum iter ipse legas, 
qua rudis Argoa natat inter saxa columba 

in faciem prorae pinus adacta novae, 



xiv.] Proper Hi Elegiae. 83 

et sis, qua Ortygia et visenda est ora Caystri, *S 

et qua septenas temperat unda vias ; 
omnia Romanae cedent miracula terrae : 

natura hie posuit, quicquid ubique fuit. 
Armis apta magis tellus, quam commoda noxae : 

famam, Roma, tuae non pudet historiae. 2° 

Nam quantum ferro, tantum pietate potentes 

stamus : victrices temperat ira manus. 
Hie Anio Tiburne fluis, Clitumnus ab Umbro 

tramite, et aeternum Marcius humor opus, 
Albanus lacus et socia Nemorensis ab unda, 2 5 

potaque Pollucis lympha salubris equo. 
At non squamoso labuntur ventre cerastae, 

Itala portentis nee fruit unda no vis, 
non hie Andromedae resonant pro matre catenae, 

nee tremis Ausonias, Phoebe fugate, dapes, 3° 

nee cuiquam absentes arserunt in caput ignes 

exitium nato matre movente suo, 
Penthea non saevae venantur in arbore Bacchae, 

nee solvit Danaas subdita cerva rates, 
cornua nee valuit curvare in pellice Iuno 35 

aut faciem turpi dedecorare bove, 
arboreasque cruces Sinis, et non hospita Graiis 

saxa, et curvatas in sua fata trabes. 
Haec tibi, Tulle, parens, haec est pulcherrima sedes, 

hie tibi pro digna gente petendus honos, 4° 

hie tibi ad eloquium cives, hie ampla nepotum 

spes et venturae coniugis aptus amor. 

XIV. (v. 3.) 

Haec Arethusa suo mittit mandata Lycotae, 

cum totiens absis, si potes esse meus. 
Si qua tamen tibi lecturo pars oblita deerit, 

haec erit e lacrimis facta litura meis : 



84 Propertii Elegiae. [xiv. 

aut si qua incerto fallet te littera tractu, 5 

signa meae dextrae iam morientis erunt. 
Te modo viderunt iteratos Bactra per ortus, 

te modo munito Noricus hostis equo, 
Hibernique Getae, pictoque Britannia curru, 

ustus et Eoa discolor Indus aqua. 10 

Quae mihi deductae fax omen praetulit, ilia 

traxit ab everso lumina nigra rogo, 
et Stygio sum sparsa lacu, nee recta capillis (15) 

vitta data est : nupsi non comitante deo. 
Omnibus heu portis pendent mea noxia vota : *5 

texitur haec castris quarta lacerna tuis. 
Occidat, inmerita qui carpsit ab arbore vallum 

et struxit querulas rauca per ossa tubas, ( 20 ) 

dignior obliquo funem qui torqueat Ocno, 

aeternusque tuam pascat, aselle, famem. 2 ° 

Die mihi, num teneros urit lorica lacertos ? 

num gravis inbelles atterit hasta manus ? 
Diceris et macie vultum tenuasse : sed opto, 

e desiderio sit color iste meo. 
At mihi cum noctes induxit vesper amaras, 2 5 

si qua relicta iacent, osculor arma tua. (3°) 

Turn queror in toto non sidere pallia lecto, 

lucis et auctores non dare carmen aves. 
Noctibus hibernis castrensia pensa laboro 

et Tyria in radios vellera secta suos, 3° 

et disco, qua parte fluat vincendus Araxes, (35) 

quot sine aqua Parthus milia currat equus, 
cogor et e tabula pictos ediscere mundos, 

qualis et haec docti sit positura dei, 
quae tellus sit lenta gelu, quae putris ab aestu, 35 

ventus in Italiam qui bene vela ferat. (40) 

Adsidet una soror, curis et pallida nutrix 

peierat hiberni temporis esse moras. 
Felix Hippolyte nuda tulit arma papilla 



xv.] Propertii Elegiac 85 

et texit galea barbara molle caput. 4° 

Romanis utinam patuissent castra puellis ! (45) 

essem militiae sarcina fida tuae, 
nee me tardarent Scythiae iuga, cum pater altas 

Africus in glaciem frigore nectit aquas. 
Omnis amor magnus, sed aperto in coniuge maior : 45 

hanc Venus, ut vivat, ventilat ipsa facem. (5°) 

Nam mihi quo ? Poenis tibi purpura fulgeat ostris 

crystallusque meas ornet aquosa manus. 
Omnia surda tacent, rarisque adsueta kalendis 

vix aperit clausos una puella lares, 5° 

Glaucidos et catulae vox est mihi grata querentis : (55) 

ilia tui partem vindicat una toro. 
Flore sacella tego, verbenis compita velo, 

et crepat ad veteres herba Sabina focos. 
Sive in finitimo gemuit stans noctua tigno, 55 

seu voluit tangi parca lucerna mero, (6°) 

ilia dies hornis caedem denuntiat agnis, 

succinctique calent ad nova lucra popae. 
Ne, precor, ascensis tanti sit gloria Bactris, 

raptave odorato carbasa Una duci, 6° 

plumbea cum tortae sparguntur pondera fundae, ( 6 5) 

subdolus et versis increpat arcus equis. 
Sed, tua sic domitis Parthae telluris alumnis 

pura triumphantis hasta sequatur equos, 
incorrupta mei conserva foedera lecti. 6 5 

Hac ego te solo lege redisse velim, C7°) 

armaque cum tulero portae votiva Capenae, 

subscribam ' salvo grata puella viro.* 

XV. (v. 6.) 

Sacra facit vates : sint ora faventia sacris, 
et cadat ante meos icta iuvenca focos. 
Cera Philetaeis certet Romana corymbis, 



86 Propertii Elegiac [xv. 

et Cyrenaeas urna ministret aquas. 
Costum molle date et blandi mihi turis honores, 5 

terque focum circa laneus orbis eat. 
Spargite me lymphis, carmenque recentibus aris 

tibia Mygdoniis libet eburna cadis. 
Ite procul fraudes, alio sint aere noxae : 

pura novum vati laurea mollit iter. IO 

Musa, Palatini referemus Apollinis aedem : 

res est, Calliope, digna favore tuo. 
Caesaris in nomen ducuntur carmina : Caesar 

dum canitur, quaeso, Iuppiter ipse vaces. 
Est Phoebi fugiens Athamana ad litora portus, *5 

qua sinus Ioniae murmura condit aquae, 
Actia Iuleae pelagus monimenta carinae, 

nautarum votis non operosa via. 
Hue mundi coiere manus : stetit aequore moles 

pinea, nee remis aequa favebat avis. 2° 

Altera classis erat Teucro damnata Quirino, 

pilaque feminea turpiter acta manu : 
hinc Augusta ratis plenis Iovis omine velis 

signaque iam patriae vincere docta suae. 
Tandem acies geminos Nereus lunarat in arcus, 2 5 

armorum radiis picta tremebat aqua, 
cum Phoebus linquens stantem se vindice Delon 

(nam tulit iratos mobilis una Notos) 
astitit Augusti puppim super, et nova flamma 

luxit in obliquam ter sinuata facem. 3° 

Non ille attulerat crines in colla solutos 

aut testudineae carmen inerme lyrae, 
sed quali aspexit Pelopeum Agamemnona vultu, 

egessitque avidis Dorica castra rogis, 
aut qualis flexos solvit Pythona per orbes 35 

serpentem, inbelles quern timuere lyrae. 
Mox ait ' o longa mundi servator ab Alba, 

Auguste, Hectoreis cognite maior avis, 



xv.] Propertii Elegiae. 87 

vince mari : iam terra tua est : tibi militat arcus, 

et favet ex humeris hoc onus omne meis. 40 

Solve metu patriam, quae nunc te vindice freta 

inposuit prorae publica vota tuae. 
Quam nisi defendes, murorum Romulus augur 

ire Palatinas non bene vidit aves. 
Et nimium remis audent ; proh turpe Latinis . 45 

principe te fluctus regia vela pati. 
Nee te, quod classis centenis remiget alis, 

terreat : invito labitur ilia mari : 
quodque vehunt prorae Centaurica saxa minantis, 

tigna cava et pictos experiere metus. 5° 

Frangit et attollit vires in milite causa ; 

quae nisi iusta subest, excutit arma pudor. 
Tempus adest, committe rates : ego temporis auctor 

ducam laurigera Iulia rostra manu.' 
Dixerat, et pharetrae pondus consumit in arcus : 55 

proxima post arcus Caesaris hasta fuit. 
Vincit Roma fide Phoebi : dat femina poenas : 

sceptra per Ionias fracta vehuntur aquas. 
At pater Idalio miratur Caesar ab astro : 

1 sum deus, et nostri sanguinis ista fides.' 6° 

Prosequitur cantu Triton, omnesque marinae 

plauserunt circa libera signa deae. 
Ilia petit Nilum cymba male nixa fugaci, 

hoc unum, iusso non moritura die. 
Di melius ! quantus mulier foret una triumphus, 6 5 

ductus erat per quas ante Iugurtha vias. 
Actius hinc traxit Phoebus monimenta, quod eius 

una decern vicit missa sagitta rates. 
Bella satis cecini : citharam iam poscit Apollo 

victor et ad placidos exuit arma choros. 7° 

Candida nunc molli subeant convivia luco, 

blanditiaeque fluant per mea colla rosae, 
vinaque fundantur praelis elisa Falernis, 



88 Propertii Elegiae. [xvi. 

terque lavet nostras spica Cilissa comas. 
Ille paludosos memoret servire Sicambros, 75 

Cepheam hie Meroen fuscaque regna canat, 
hie referat sero confessum foedere Parthum : 

' reddat signa Remi, mox dabit ipse sua : ( 8o ) 

sive aliquid pharetris Augustus parcet Eois, 

differat in pueros ista tropaea suos. 8o 

Gaude, Crasse, nigras si quid sapis inter harenas : 

ire per Euphraten ad tua busta licet. ' 
Sic noctem patera, sic ducam carmine, donee ( 8 5) 

iniciat radios in mea vina dies. 



XVI. (v. ii.) 

Desine, Paulle, meum lacrimis urgere sepulcrum : 

panditur ad nullas ianua nigra preces. 
Cum semel infernas intrarunt funera leges, 

non exorato stant adamante viae. 
Te licet orantem fuscae deus audiat aulae : 5 

nempe tuas lacrimas litora surda bibent. 
Vota movent superos : ubi portitor aera recepit, 

obserat herbosos lurida porta rogos. 
Sic maestae cecinere tubae, cum subdita nostrum 

detraheret lecto fax inimica caput. IO 

Quid mihi coniugium Paulli, quid currus avorum 

profuit aut famae pignora tanta meae ? 
Num minus inmites habui Cornelia Parcas ? 

en sum, quod digitis quinque levatur, onus. 
Damnatae noctes et vos vada lenta paludes, *5 

et quaecumque meos inplicat unda pedes, 
inmatura licet, tamen hue non noxia veni : 

det pater hie umbrae mollia iura meae. 
Aut si quis posita iudex sedet Aeacus urna, 

in mea sortita vindicet ossa pila : 2° 

adsideant fratres, iuxta Minoida sellam 



xvl] Propertii Elegiae. 89 

Eumenidum intento turba severa foro : 
Sisyphe, mole vaces, taceant Ixionis orbes, 

fallax Tantaleo corripiare liquor, 
Cerberus et nullas hodie petat improbus umbras, 2 5 

et iaceat tacita lapsa catena sera. 
Ipsa loquar pro me : si fallo, poena sororum 

infelix humeros urgeat urna meos. 
Si cui fama fuit per avita tropaea decori, 

Afra Numantinos regna loquuntur avos, 3° 

altera maternos exaequat turba Libones, 

et domus est titulis utraque fulta suis. 
Mox, ubi iam facibus cessit praetexta maritis, 

vinxit et acceptas altera vitta comas, 
iungor, Paulle, tuo sic discessura cubili : 35 

in lapide hoc uni nupta fuisse legar. 
Testor maiorum cineres tibi, Roma, verendos, 

sub quorum titulis, Africa, tonsa iaces, 
et Persen proavi simulantem pectus Achillis 

quique tuas proavo fregit Achille domos, 40 

me neque censurae legem mollisse nee ulla 

labe mea vestros erubuisse focos. 
Non fuit exuviis tantis Cornelia damnum : 

quin erat et magnae pars imitanda domus. 
Nee mea mutata est aetas, sine crimine tota est : 45 

viximus insignes inter utramque facem. 
Mi natura dedit leges a sanguine ductas, 

ne possem melior iudicis esse metu. 
Quaelibet austeras de me ferat urna tabellas : 

turpior assessu non erit ulla meo, 50 

vel tu, quae tardam movisti fune Cybeben, 

Claudia, turritae rara ministra deae, 
vel cui, commissos cum Vesta reposceret ignes, 

exhibuit vivos carbasus alba focos. 
Nee te, dulce caput, mater Scribonia, laesi : 55 

in me mutatum quid nisi fata velis ? 



\ 



90 Propertii Elegiac [xvi. 

Maternis laudor lacrimis urbisque querellis, 

defensa et gemitu Caesaris ossa mea. 
Ille sua nata dignam vixisse sororem 

increpat, et lacrimas vidimus ire deo. 6° 

Et tamen emerui generosos vestis honores, 

nee mea de sterili facta rapina domo. 
Tu, Lepide, et tu, Paulle, meum post fata levamen, 

condita sunt vestro lumina nostra sinu. 
Vidimus et fratrem sellam geminasse curulem, 6 S 

consule quo facto tempore rapta soror. 
Filia, tu specimen censurae nata paternae, 

fac teneas unum nos imitata virum, 
et serie fulcite genus : mihi cymba volenti 

solvitur aucturis tot mea fata meis. 7° 

Haec est feminei merces extrema triumphi, 

laudat ubi emeritum libera fama rogum. 
Nunc tibi commendo communia pignora natos : 

haec cura et cineri spirat inusta meo. 
Fungere maternis vicibus, pater : ilia meorum 75 

omnis erit collo turba ferenda tuo. 
Oscula cum dederis tua flentibus, adice matris : 

tota domus coepit nunc onus esse tuum. 
Et si quid doliturus eris, sine testibus illis : 

cum venient, siccis oscula falle genis. 8o 

Sat tibi sint noctes, quas de me, Paulle, fatiges, 

somniaque in faciem credita saepe meam : 
atque ubi secreto nostra ad simulacra loqueris, 

ut responsurae singula verba iace. 
Seu tamen adversum mutarit ianua lectum, 8 5 

sederit et nostro cauta noverca toro, 
coniugium, pueri, laudate et ferte paternum : 

capta dabit vestris moribus ilia manus. 
Nee matrem laudate nimis : collata priori 

vertet in offensas libera verba suas. 9° 

Seu memor ille mea contentus manserit umbra 



xvi.] Propertii Elegiae. 91 

et tanti cineres duxerit esse meos, 
discite venturam iam nunc sentire senectam, 

caelibis ad curas nee vacet ulla via. 
Quod mihi detractum est, vestros accedat ad annos : 95 

prole mea Paullum sic iuvet esse senem. 
Et bene habet : numquam mater lugubria sumpsi : 

venit in exequias tota caterva meas. 
Causa perorata est. Flentes me surgite, testes, 

dum pretium vitae grata rependit humus. I0 ° 

Moribus et caelum patuit : sim digna merendo, 

cuius honoratis ossa vehantur equis. 



P. OVIDIUS NASO. 



HEROIDES. EPISTULA XIII. 

MITTIT, et optat amans, quo mittitur, ire salutem, 
Haemonis Haemonio Laodamia viro. 
Aulide te fama est vento retinente morari : 

a ! me cum fugeres, hie ubi ventus erat ? 
Turn freta debuerant vestns obsistere remis. 5 

Illud erat saevis utile tempus aquis. 
Oscula plura viro mandataque plura dedissem : 

et sunt quae volui dicere multa tibi. 
Raptus es hinc praeceps, et qui tua vela vocaret, 

quern cuperent nautae, non ego, ventus erat. IO 

Ventus erat nautis aptus, non aptus amanti : 

solvor ab amplexu, Protesilae, tuo, 
linguaque mandantis verba inperfecta reliquit : 

vix illud potui dicere triste vale. 
Incubuit Boreas, abreptaque vela tetendit : *5 

iamque meus longe Protesilaus erat. 
Dum potui spectare virum, spectare iuvabat : 

sumque tuos oculos usque secuta meis. 
Ut te non poteram, poteram tua vela videre, 

vela diu vultus detinuere meos. 2° 

At postquam nee te, nee vela fugacia vidi, 

et quod spectarem, nil nisi pontus erat, 
lux quoque tecum abiit, tenebrisque exanguis obortis 

succiduo dicor procubuisse genu. 



94 P> Ovidius Naso. [i. 

Vix socer Iphiclus, vix me grandaevus Acastus, 2 5 

vix mater gelida maesta refecit aqua. 
Officium fecere pium, sed inutile nobis. 

Indignor miserae non licuisse mori. 
Ut rediit animus, pariter rediere dolores. 

Pectora legitimus casta momordit amor. 3° 

Nee mihi pectendos cura est praebere capillos, 

nee libet aurata corpora veste tegi. 
Ut quas pampinea tetigisse Bicorniger hasta 

creditur, hue illuc, qua furor egit, eo. 
Conveniunt matres Phylaceides, et mihi clamant 35 

' indue regales, Laodamia, sinus ! ' 
Scilicet ipsa geram saturatas murice lanas, 

bella sub Iliads moenibus ille gerat? 
Ipsa comas pectar, galea caput ille prematur : 

ipsa novas vestes, dura vir arma ferat? 4° 

Qua possum, squalore tuos imitata labores 

dicar, et haec belli tempora tristis agam. 
Dyspari Priamide, damno formose tuorum, 

tarn sis hostis iners, quam malus hospes eras. 
Aut te Taenariae faciem culpasse maritae, 45 

aut illi vellem displicuisse tuam. 
Tu, qui pro rapta nimium, Menelae, laboras, 

ei mihi, quam multis flebilis ultor eris ! 
Di, precor, a nobis omen removete sinistrum, 

et sua det reduci vir meus arma Iovi. 5° 

Sed timeo, quotiens subiit miserabile bellum : 

more nivis lacrimae sole madentis eunt. 
Ilion et Tenedos Simoisque et Xanthus et Ide 

nomina sunt ipso paene timenda sono. 
Nee rapere ausurus, nisi se defendere posset, 55 

hospes erat. Vires noverat ille suas. 
Venerat, ut fama est, multo spectabilis auro, 

quique suo Phrygias corpore ferret opes, 
classe virisque potens, per quae fera bella geruntur. 



i.] Heroides. Ep. XIII. 95 

Et sequitur regni pars quota quemque sui ? 6° 

His ego te victam, consors Ledaea gemellis, 

suspicor. Haec Danais posse nocere puto. 
Hectora nescio quern timeo : Paris Hectora dixit 

ferrea sanguinea bella movere manu. 
Hectora, quisquis is est, si sum tibi cara, caveto : 6 5 

signatum memori pectore nomen habe. 
Hunc ubi vitaris, alios vitare memento, 

et multos illic Hectoras esse puta : 
et facito ut dicas, quotiens pugnare parabis, 

'parcere me iussit Laodamia sibi.' 7° 

Si cadere Argolico fas est sub milite Troiam, 

te quoque non ullum vulnus habente cadat. 
Pugnet et adversos tendat Menelaus in hostis : (73) 

hostibus e mediis nupta petenda viro est. (76) 

Causa tua est dispar. Tu tantum vivere pugna, 75 

inque pios dominae posse redire sinus. 
Parcite, Dardanidae, de tot, precor, hostibus uni, 

ne meus ex illo corpore sanguis eat. (80) 

Non est, quern deceat nudo concurrere ferro, 

saevaque in obpositos pectora ferre viros. 8o 

Fortius ille potest multo, quam pugnat, amare. 

Bella gerant alii : Protesilaus amet. 
Nunc fateor. Volui revocare, animusque ferebat. ( 8 5) 

Substitit auspicii lingua timore mali. 
Cum foribus velles ad Troiam exire paternis, 8 5 

pes tuus offenso limine signa dedit. 
Ut vidi, ingemui tacitoque in pectore dixi 

' signa reversuri sint, precor, ista viri ! ' (90) 

Haec tibi nunc refero, ne sis animosus in armis. 

Fac meus in ventos hie timor omnis eat. 90 

Sors quoque nescio quern fato designat iniquo, 

qui primus Danaum Troada tangat humum. 
Infelix, quae prima virum lugebit ademptum ! (95) 

Di faciant, ne tu strenuus esse velis ! 



96 P. Ovidius JVaso. [i. 

Inter mille rates tua sit millensima puppis, 95 

iamque fatigatas ultima verse t aquas. 
Hoc quoque praemoneo. De nave novissimus exi : 

non est, quo properes, terra paterna tibi. ( I0 °) 

Cum venies, remoque move veloque carinam, 

inque tuo celerem litore siste gradum ! I0 ° 

Sive latet Phoebus, seu terris altior exstat, 

tu mihi luce dolor, tu mihi nocte venis. 
Sed tua cur nobis pallens occurrit imago ? 

Cur venit a verbis multa querella tuis ? ( II0 ) 

Excutior somno, simulacraque noctis adoro : IO S 

nulla caret fumo Thessalis ara meo : 
tura damus, lacrimamque super, qua sparsa relucet, 

ut solet adfuso surgere flamma mero. 
Quando ego, te reducem cupidis amplexa lacertis, ( IX 5) 

languida laetitia solvar ab ipsa mea? IIQ 

Quando erit, ut lecto mecum bene iunctus in uno 

militiae referas splendida facta tuae ? 
Quae mihi dum referes, quamvis audire iuvabit, 

multa tamen rapies oscula, multa dabis. ( I2 °) 

Semper in his apte narrantia verba resistunt : IX 5 

promptior est dulci lingua referre mora. 
Sed cum Troia subit, subeunt ventique fretumque, 

spes bona sollicito victa timore cadit. 
Hoc quoque, quod venti prohibent exire carinas, ( I2 5) 

me movet. Invitis ire paratis aquis. I2 ° 

Quis velit in patriam vento prohibente reverti? 

A patria pelago vela vetante datis ! 
Ipse suam non praebet iter Neptunus ad urbem. 

Quo ruitis ? Vestras quisque redite domos ! ( x 3°) 

Quo ruitis, Danai? Ventos audite vetantis ! I3 5 

Non subiti casus, numinis ista mora est. 
Quid petitur tanto nisi turpis adultera bello ? 

Dum licet, Inachiae vertite vela rates ! 
Sed quid ago ? revoco ? revocaminis omen abesto, ( X 3S) 



i.] Heroides. Ep. XIIL 97 

blandaque compositas aura secundet aquas. x 3o 

Troasin invideo, quae sic lacrimosa suorum 

funera conspicient, nee procul hostis erit. 
Ipsa suis manibus forti nova nupta marito 

inponet galeam barbaraque arma dabit. (14°) 

Arma dabit, dumque arma dabit, simul oscula sumet : — 

hoc genus officii dulce duobus erit — *3 6 

producetque virum, dabit et mandata reverti, 

et dicet * referas ista fac arma Iovi ! ' 
Hie, ferens dominae mandata recentia secum ( J 45) 

pugnabit caute, respicietque domum. 14° 

Exuet haec reduci clipeum, galeamque resolvet, 

excipietque suo corpora lassa sinu. 
Nos sumus incertae. Nos anxius omnia cogit, 

quae possunt fieri, facta putare timor. fe ) 

Dum tamen arma geres di verso miles in orbe, *45 

quae referat vultus est mihi cera tuos. 
Mi blanditias, illi tibi debita verba 

dicimus, amplexus accipit ilia meos. 
Crede mihi, plus est, quam quod videatur, imago ( J 55) 

adde sonum cerae, Protesilaus erit. zS 

Hanc specto, teneoque sinu pro coniuge vero, 

et, tamquam possit verba referre, queror. 
Per reditus corpusque tuum, mea numina, iuro, 

perque pares animi coniugiique faces, ( l6 °) 

perque, quod ut videam canis albere capillis, *55 

quod tecum possis ipse referre, caput, 
me tibi venturam comitem, quocumque vocaris, 

sive — quod heu timeo, sive superstes eris. 
Ultima mandato claudetur epistula parvo : ( l6 5) 

sit tibi cura mei, sit tibi cura tui ! *&> 



98 P. Ovidius Naso. [11. 

II. 

AMORES. III. 9. 

Memnona si mater, mater ploravit Achillen, 

et tangunt magnas tristia fata deas, 
flebilis indignos, Elegeia, solve capillos. 

A ! nimis ex vero nunc tibi nomen erit ! 
Ille tui vates operis, tua fama, Tibullus 5 

ardet in extructo, corpus inane, rogo. 
Ecce, puer Veneris fert eversamque pharetram 

et fractos arcus et sine luce facem. 
Aspice, demissis ut eat miserabilis alis, 

pectoraque infesta tundat aperta manu. 1° 

Excipiunt lacrimas sparsi per colla capilli, 

oraque singultu concutiente sonant. 
Fratris in Aeneae sic ilium funere dicunt 

egressum tectis, pulcher Iule, tuis. 
Nee minus est confusa Venus moriente Tibullo, J S 

quam iuveni rupit cum ferus inguen aper. 
At sacri vates et divum cura vocamur ! 

sunt etiam, qui nos numen habere putent ! 
Scilicet omne sacrum mors inportuna profanat. 

Omnibus obscuras inicit ilia manus. 20 

Quid pater Ismario, quid mater profuit Orpheo ? 

Carmine quid victas obstipuisse feras ? 
Aelinon in silvis idem pater, aelinon, altis 

dicitur invita concinuisse lyra. 
Adice Maeoniden, a quo, ceu fonte perenni, 2 S 

vatum Pieriis ora rigantur aquis. 
Hunc quoque summa dies nigro submersit Averno : 

defugiunt avidos carmina sola rogos. 
Durat opus vatum : Troiani fama laboris, 

tardaque nocturno tela retexta dolo : 3° 



ii.] Amores. 99 

sic Nemesis longum, sic Delia nomen habebunt, 

Altera cura recens, altera primus amor. 
Quid vos sacra iuvant ? quid nunc Aegyptia prosunt 

sistra ? quid in vacuo secubuisse toro ? 
Cum rapiant mala fata bonos, — ignoscite fasso, — 35 

sollicitor nullos esse putare deos. 
Vive pius, moriere pius, cole sacra ; colentem 

mors gravis a templis in cava busta trahet. 
Carminibus confide bonis. Iacet, ecce, Tibullus : 

vix manet e toto parva quod urna capit. 4° 

Tene, sacer vates, flammae rapuere rogales, 

pectoribus pasci nee timuere tuis? 
Aurea sanctorum potuissent templa deorum 

urere, quae tantum sustinuere nefas. 
Avertit vultus Erycis quae possidet arces. 45 

Sunt quoque, qui lacrimas continuisse negant. 
Sed tamen hoc melius, quam si Phaeacia tellus 

ignotum vili supposuisset humo. 
Hinc certe madidos fugientis pressit ocellos 

mater, et in cineres ultima dona tulit : 5° 

hinc soror in partem misera cum matre doloris 

venit, inornatas dilaniata comas : 
cumque tuis sua iunxerunt Nemesisque priorque 

oscula, nee solos destituere rogos. 
Delia descendens ' felicius ' inquit l amata 55 

sum tibi. Vixisti, dum tuus ignis eram.' 
Cui Nemesis i quid ' ait i tibi sunt mea damna dolori ? 

me tenuit moriens deficiente manu.' 
Si tamen e nobis aliquid nisi nomen et umbra 

restat, in Elysia valle Tibullus erit. 6o 

Obvius huic venias, hedera iuvenalia cinctus 

tempora, cum Calvo, docte Catulle, tuo. 
Tu quoque, si falsum est temerati crimen amici, 

sanguinis atque animae prodige Galle tuae. 



100 P. Ovidius Naso. [m. 

His comes umbra tua est. Siqua est modo corporis umbra, 
auxisti numeros, culte Tibulle, pios. 66 

Ossa quieta, precor, tuta requiescite in urna, 
et sit humus cineri non onerosa tuo ! 



III. 
FASTI I. 1-140. 

Tempora cum causis Latium digesta per annum 

lapsaque sub terras ortaque signa canam. 
Excipe pacato, Caesar Germanice, voltu 

hoc opus et timidae dirige navis iter : 
officioque, levem non aversatus honorem, 5 

huic tibi devoto numine dexter ades. 
Sacra recognosces annalibus eruta priscis, 

et quo sit merito quaeque notata dies. 
Invenies illic et festa domestica vobis : 

saepe tibi pater est, saepe legendus avus. *° 

Quaeque ferunt ill! pictos signantia fastos, 

tu quoque cum Druso praemia fratre feres. 
Caesaris arma canant alii. Nos Caesaris aras, 

et quoscumque sacris addidit ille dies. 
Annue conanti per laudes ire tuorum, *5 

deque meo pavidos excute corde metus. 
Da mihi te placidum, dederis in carmina viris. 

Ingenium voltu statque caditque tuo. 
Pagina iudicium docti subitura movetur 

principis, ut Clario missa legenda deo. 2 ° 

Quae sit enim culti facundia sensimus oris, 

civica pro trepidis cum tulit arma reis. 
Scimus et, ad nostras cum se tulit impetus artes 

ingenii currant flumina quanta tui. 



in.] Fasti I. 101 

Si licet et fas est, vates rege vatis habenas, 2 5 

auspicio felix totus ut annus eat. 

Tempora digereret cum conditor urbis, in anno 

constituit menses quinque bis esse suo. 
Scilicet arma magis quam sidera, Romule, noras, 

curaque finitimos vincere maior erat. 30 

Est tamen et ratio, Caesar, quae moverit ilium : 

erroremque suum quo tueatur, habet. 
Quod satis est, utero matris dum prodeat infans, 

hoc anno statuit temporis esse satis. 
Per totidem menses a funere coniugis uxor 35 

sustinet in vidua tristia signa domo. 
Haec igitur vidit trabeati cura Quirini 

cum rudibus populis annua iura daret. 
Martis erat primus mensis, Venerisque secundus : 

haec generis princeps, ipsius ille pater : 40 

tertius a senibus, iuvenum de nomine quartus, 

quae sequitur, numero turba notata fuit. 
At Numa nee Ianum nee avitas praeterit umbras, 

mensibus antiquis praeposuitque duos. 
Ne tamen ignores variorum iura dierum, 45 

non habet officii lucifer omnis idem. 
Ille nefastus erit, per quern tria verba silentur : 

fastus erit, per quern lege licebit agi. 
Nee toto perstare die sua iura putaris : 

qui iam fastus erit, mane nefastus erat. 5° 

Nam simul exta deo data sunt, licet omnia fari, 

verbaque honoratus libera praetor habet. 
Est quoque, quo populum ius est includere saeptis : 

est quoque, qui nono semper ab orbe redit. 
Vindicat Ausonias Iunonis cura Kalendas. 55 

Idibus alba Iovi grandior agna cadit. 
Nonarum tutela deo caret. Omnibus istis — 

ne fallare cave — proximus ater erit. 



102 P. Ovidius Naso. [in. 

Omen ab eventu est. Illis nam Roma diebus 

damn a sub averso tristia Marte tulit. 6° 

Haec mihi dicta semel, totis haerentia fastis, 
ne seriem rerum scindere cogar, erunt. 

Ecce tibi faustum, Germanice, nuntiat annum 

inque meo primus carmine Ianus adest. 
lane biceps, anni tacite labentis origo, 6 5 

solus de superis qui tua terga vides, 
dexter ades ducibus, quorum secura labore 

otia terra ferax, otia pontus habet : 
dexter ades patribusque tuis populoque Quirini, 

et resera nutu Candida templa tuo. 7° 

Prospera lux oritur. Linguis animisque favete ! 

nunc dicenda bona sunt bona verba die. 
Lite vacent aures, insanaque protinus absint 

iurgia. Differ opus, livida turba, tuum. 
Cernis, odoratis ut luceat ignibus aether, 75 

et sonet accensis spica Cilissa focis ? 
Flamma nitore suo templorum verberat aurum, 

et tremulum summa spargit in aede iubar. 
Vestibus intactis Tarpeias itur in arces, 

et populus festo concolor ipse suo est. 8o 

Iamque novi praeeunt fasces, nova purpura fulget, 

et nova conspicuum pondera sentit ebur. 
Colla rudes operum praebent ferienda iuvenci, 

quos aluit campis herba Falisca suis. 
Iuppiter arce sua totum cum spectet in orbem, 8 5 

nil nisi Romanum, quod tueatur, habet. 
Salve, laeta dies, meliorque revertere semper, 

a populo rerum digna potente coli. 
Quern tamen esse deum te dicam, lane biformis? 

nam tibi par nullum Graecia numen habet. 9° 

Ede simul causam, cur de caelestibus unus 

sitque quod a tergo, sitque quod ante, vides ? 



in.] Fasti L 103 

Haec ego cum sumptis agitarem mente tabellis, 

lucidior visa est, quam fuit ante, domus. 
Tunc sacer ancipiti mirandus imagine Ianus 95 

bina repens oculis obtulit ora meis. 
Obstipui, sensique metu riguisse capillos, 

et gelidum subito frigore pectus erat. 
Ille ten ens baculum dextra clavemque sinistra 

edidit hos nobis ore priore sonos : I0 ° 

e disce metu posito, vates operose dierum, 

quod petis, et voces percipe mente meas. 
Me Chaos antiqui — nam sum res prisca — vocabant. 

Aspice, quam longi temporis acta canam. 
Lucidus hie aer, et quae tria corpora restant, I0 5 

ignis, aquae, tellus, unus acervus erat. 
Ut semel haec rerum secessit lite suarum, 

inque novas abiit massa soluta domos, 
flamma petit altum, propior locus aera cepit : 

sederunt medio terra fretumque solo. IIQ 

Tunc ego, qui fueram globus et sine imagine moles, 

in faciem redii dignaque membra deo. 
Nunc quoque, confusae quondam nota parva figurae, 

ante quod est in me postque, videtur idem. 
Accipe, quaesitae quae causa sit altera formae, JI 5 

hanc simul ut noris officiumque meum. 
Quicquid ubique vides, caelum, mare, nubila, terras 

omnia, sunt nostra clausa patentque manu. 
Me penes est unum vasti custodia mundi, 

et ius vertendi cardinis omne meum est. I2 ° 

Cum libuit Pacem placidis emittere tectis, 

libera perpetuas ambulat ilia vias. 
Sanguine letifero totus miscebitur orbis, 

ni teneant rigidae condita bella serae. 
Praesideo foribus caeli cum mitibus Horis : I2 5 

it, redit officio Iuppiter ipse meo. 
Inde vocor Ianus. Cui cum Cereale sacerdos 



104 P* Ovidius Naso. pv. 

inponit libum farraque mixta sale, 
nomina ridebis. Modo namque Patulcius idem 

et modo sacrifico Clusius ore vocor. *3° 

Scilicet alterno voluit rudis ilia vetustas 

nomine diversas significare vices. 
Vis mea narrata est. Causam nunc disce figurae : 

iam tamen hanc aliqua tu quoque parte vides. 
Omnis habet geminas, hinc atque hinc, ianua frontis, 135 

e quibus haec populum spectat, at ilia larem. 
Utque sedens primi vester prope limina tecti 

ianitor egressus introitusque videt, 
sic ego perspicio caelestis ianitor aulae 

Eoas partes Hesperiasque simul. *4° 



IV. 



FASTI II. 19-54. 

Februa Romani dixere piamina patres. 

Nunc quoque dant verbo plurima signa fidem. 
Pontifices ab rege petunt et flamine lanas, 

quis veterum lingua februa nomen erat. 
Quaeque capit lictor domibus purgamina certis, 

torrida cum mica farra, vocantur idem. 
Nomen idem ramo, qui caesus ab arbore pura 

casta sacerdotum tempora fronde tegit. 
Ipse ego flaminicam poscentem februa vidi : 

februa poscenti pinea virga data est. x 

Denique quodcumque est, quo corpora nostra piantur 

hoc apud intonsos nomen habebat avos. 
Mensis ab his dictus, secta quia pelle luperci 

omne solum lustrant, idque piamen habent : 



v.] Fasti II. 105 

aut quia placatis sunt tempora pura sepulcris, J 5 

tunc cum ferales praeteriere dies. 
Omne nefas omnemque mali purgamina causam 

credebant nostri tollere posse senes. 
Graecia principium moris fuit. Ilia nocentis 

inpia lustratos ponere facta putat. 2° 

Actoriden Peleus, ipsum quoque Pelea Phoci 

caede per Haemonias solvit Acastus aquas. 
Vectam frenatis per inane draconibus Aegeus 

credulus inmerita Phasida iuvit ope. 
Amphiareiades Naupactoo Acheloo 2 5 

1 solve nefas ' dixit. Solvit et ille nefas. 
A ! nimium faciles, qui tristia crimina caedis 

fluminea tolli posse putetis aqua ! 
Sed tamen — antiqui ne nescius ordinis erres — 

primus, ut est, Iani mensis et ante fuit. 3° 

Qui sequitur Ianum, veteris fuit ultimus anni : 

tu quoque sacrorum, Termine, finis eras. 
Primus enim Iani mensis, quia ianua prima est. 

Qui sacer est imis manibus, imus erat. 
Postmodo creduntur spatio distantia longo 35 

tempora bis quini continuasse viri. 



V. 

FASTI II. 193-242. 

Idibus agrestis fumant altaria Fauni, 
hie ubi discretas insula rumpit aquas. 

Haec fuit ilia dies, in qua Veientibus arvis 
ter centum Fabii ter cecidere duo. 

Una domus vires et onus susceperat urbis : 



106 P. Ovidius Naso. [v. 

sumunt gentiles arma professa manus : 
egreditur castris miles generosus ab isdem, 

e quis dux fieri quilibet aptus erat. 
Carmentis portae dextra est via proxima Iano : 

ire per hanc noli, quisquis es. Omen habet. 10 

Ut celeri passu Cremeram tetigere rapacem, — 

turbidus hibernis ille fluebat aquis — 
castra loco ponunt, destrictis ensibus ipsi 

Tyrrhenum valido Marte per agmen eunt. 
Non aliter, quam cum Libyca de rupe leones J 5 

invadunt sparsos lata per arva greges. 
Diffugiunt hostes inhonestaque volnera tergo 

accipiunt : Tusco sanguine terra rubet. 
Sic iterum, sic saepe cadunt. Ubi vincere aperte 

non datur, insidias armaque tecta parant. 2 ° 

Campus erat. Campi claudebant ultima colles 

silvaque montanas occulere apta feras. 
In medio paucos armentaque rara relinquunt, 

cetera virgultis abdita turba latet. 
Ecce velut torrens undis pluvialibus auctus, 2 5 

aut nive, quae Zephyro victa tepente fluit, 
per sata perque vias fertur, nee, ut ante solebat, 

riparum clausas margine finit aquas : 
sic Fabii vallem latis discursibus inplent, 

quodque vident, sternunt. Nee metus alter inest. 3° 
Quo ruitis, generosa domus ? male creditis hosti. 

Simplex nobilitas, perfida tela cave ! 
Fraude perit virtus. In apertos undique campos 

prosiliunt hostes, et latus omne tenent. 
Quid faciant pauci contra tot milia fortes ? 35 

Quidve, quod in misero tempore restet, habent? 
Sicut aper longe silvis Laurentibus actus 

fulmineo celeres dissipat ore canes, 
mox tamen ipse perit, sic non moriuntur inulti, 

Volneraque alterna dantque feruntque manu. 4° 



vi.] Fasti II. 107 

Una dies Fabios ad bellum miserat omnes : 

ad bellum missos perdidit una dies. 
Ut tamen Herculeae superessent semina gentis, 

credibile est ipsos consuluisse deos. 
Nam puer inpubes et adhuc non utilis armis 45 

unus de Fabia gente relictus erat : 
scilicet ut posses olim tu, Maxime, nasci, 

cui res cunctando restituenda foret. 



VI. 

FASTI II. 533-570. 

Est honor et tumulis, animas placare paternas, 

parvaque in extructas munera ferre pyras. 
Parva petunt Manes. Pietas pro divite grata est 

munere. Non avidos Styx habet ima deos. 
Tegula porrectis satis est velata coronis, 5 

et sparsae fruges, parcaque mica salis, 
inque mero mollita Ceres, violaeque solutae : 

haec habeat media testa relicta via. 
Nee maiora veto. Sed et his placabilis umbra est. 

Adde preces positis et sua verba focis. IO 

Hunc morem Aeneas, pietatis idoneus auctor, 

attulit in terras, iuste Latine, tuas. 
Ille patris Genio sollemnia dona ferebat. 

Hinc populi ritus edidicere pios. 
At quondam, dum longa gerunt pugnacibus armis *5 

bella, parentales deseruere dies. 
Non impune fuit. Nam dicitur omine ab isto 

Roma suburbanis incaluisse rogis. 
Vix equidem credo, bustis exisse feruntur 



108 P. Ovidius Naso. [vn. 

et tacitae questi tempore noctis avi, 20 

perque vias urbis Latiosque ululasse per agros 

deformes animas, volgus inane, ferunt. 
Post ea praeteriti tumulis redduntur honores, 

prodigiisque venit funeribusque modus. 
Dum tamen haec fiunt, viduae cessate puellae : 2 5 

expectet puros pinea taeda dies. 
Nee tibi, quae cupidae matura videbere matri, 

comat virgineas hasta recurva comas. 
Conde tuas, Hymenaee, facis, et ab ignibus atris 

aufer ! habent alias maesta sepulcra faces. 3° 

Di quoque templorum foribus celentur opertis, 

ture vacent arae, stentque sine igne foci. 
Nunc animae tenues et corpora functa sepulcris 

errant, nunc posito pascitur umbra cibo. 
Nee tamen haec ultra, quam tot de mense supersint 35 

luciferi, quot habent carmina nostra pedes. 
Hanc, quia iusta ferunt, dixere Feralia lucem. 

Ultima placandis manibus ilia dies. 



VII. 

FASTI II. 617-684. 

Proxima cognati dixere Caristia cari, 

et venit ad socios turba propinqua deos. 
Scilicet a tumulis et qui periere, propinquis 

protinus ad vivos ora referre iuvat, 
postque tot amissos quicquid de sanguine restat, 

aspicere, et generis dinumerare gradus. 
Innocui veniant ; procul hinc, procul inpius esto 

frater, et in partus mater acerba suos, 
cui pater est vivax, qui matris digerit annos, 



vil] Fasti II. 109 

quae premit invisam socrus iniqua nurum. I0 

Tantalidae fratres absint, et Iasonis uxor, 

et quae ruricolis semina tosta dedit, 
et soror et Procne, Tereusque duabus iniquus, 

et quicumque suas per scelus auget opes. 
Dis generis date tura bonis. Concordia fertur x 5 

ilia praecipue mitis adesse die. 
Et libate dapes, ut, grati pignus honoris, 

nutriat incinctos missa patella Lares. 
Iamque ubi suadebit placidos nox humida somnos, 

larga precaturi sumite vina manu, 2 ° 

et ' bene vos, bene te, patriae pater, optime Caesar ! ' 

dicite suffuso ter bona verba mero. 

Nox ubi transierit, solito celebretur honore 

separat indicio qui deus arva suo. 
Termine, sive lapis, sive es defossus in agro 2 5 

stipes, ab antiquis tu quoque numen habes. 
Te duo diversa domini pro parte coronant, 

binaque serta tibi binaque liba ferunt. 
Ara fit. Hue ignem curto fert rustica testu 

sumptum de tepidis ipsa colona focis. 3° 

Ligna senex minuit, concisaque construit arte, 

et solida ramos figere pugnat humo. 
Turn sicco primas inritat cortice flammas : 

stat puer et manibus lata canistra tenet. 
Inde ubi ter fruges medios inmisit in ignis, 35 

porrigit incisos filia parva favos. 
Vina tenent alii. Libantur singula flammis. 

Spectant, et Unguis Candida turba favet. 
Spargitur et caeso communis Terminus agno, 

nee queritur, lactens cum sibi porca datur. 4° 

Conveniunt, celebrantque dapes vicinia simplex, 

et cantant laudes, Termine sancte, tuas : 
1 Tu populos urbesque et regna ingentia finis : 



HO P. Ovidius Naso. [vm. 

omnis erit sine te litigiosus ager. 
Nulla tibi ambitio est, nullo corrumperis auro. 45 

Legitima servas credita rura fide. 
Si tu signasses olim Thyreatida terram, 

corpora non leto missa trecenta forent, 
nee foret Othryades congestis lectus in armis. 

O quantum patriae sanguinis ille dedit ! 5° 

Quid, nova cum fierent Capitolia? nempe deorum 

cuncta Iovi cessit turba, locumque dedit. 
Terminus, ut veteres memorant, inventus in aede 

restitit et magno cum love templa tenet. 
Nunc quoque, se supra ne quid nisi sidera cernat, 55 

exiguum templi tecta foramen habent. 
Termine, post illud le vitas tibi libera non est : 

qua positus fueris in statione, mane, 
nee tu vicino quicquam concede roganti, 

ne videare hominem praeposuisse Iovi : 6o 

et seu vomeribus, seu tu pulsabere rastris, 

clamato ' tuus est hie ager, ille suus ! ' ' 
Est via, quae populum Laurentes ducit in agros, 

quondam Dardanio regna petita duci. 
Ilia lanigeri pecoris tibi, Termine, fibris 6 5 

sacra videt fieri sextus ab urbe lapis. 
Gentibus est aliis tellus data limite certo : 

Romanae spatium est urbis et orbis idem. 



VIII. 

FASTI V. 183-228. 

' Mater, ades, riorum, ludis celebranda iocosis ! 

Distuleram partes mense priore tuas. 
Incipis Aprili, transis in tempora Mai. 

Alter te fugiens, cum venit, alter habet. 



viii.] Fasti V. in 

Cum tua sint cedantque tibi confinia mensum, 5 

convenit in laudes ille vel ille tuas. 
Circus in hunc exit clamataque pal ma theatris : 

hoc quoque cum Circi munere carmen eat. 
Ipsa doce, quae sis. Hominum sententia fallax 

optima tu proprii nominis auctor ens.' IO 

Sic ego. Sic nostris respondit diva rogatis : 

dum loquitur, vernas efflat ab ore rosas. 
6 Chloris eram, quae Flora vocor. Corrupta Latino 

nominis est nostri littera Graeca sono. 
Chloris eram, nymphe campi felicis, ubi audis *5 

rem fortunatis ante fuisse viris. 
Quae fuerit mihi forma, grave est narrare modestae 

sed generum matri repperit ilia deum. 
Ver erat, errabam : Zephyrus conspexit, abibam. 

Insequitur, fugio. Fortior ille fait. 20 

Et dederat fratri Boreas ius omne rapinae, 

ausus Erechthea praemia ferre domo. 
Vim tamen emendat dando mihi nomina nuptae, 

inque meo non est ulla querella toro. 
Vere fruor semper. Semper nitidissimus annus, 2 5 

arbor habet frondes, pabula semper humus. 
Est mihi fecundus dotalibus hortus in agris : 

aura fovet, liquidae fonte rigatur aquae. 
Hunc meus implevit generoso flore maritus, 

atque ait, ' arbitrium tu, dea, floris habe.' 3° 

Saepe ego digestos volui numerare colores, 

nee potui. Numero copia maior erat. 
Roscida cum primum foliis excussa pruina est, 

et variae radiis intepuere comae, 
conveniunt pictis incinctae vestibus Horae, 35 

inque leves calathos munera nostra legunt. 
Protinus accedunt Charites, nectuntque coronas, 

sertaque caelestes implicitura comas. 
Prima per inmensas sparsi nova semina gentes. 



112 P. Ovidius JVaso. [rx. 

Unius tellus ante coloris erat. 40 

Prima Therapnaeo feci de sanguine florem, 

et manet in folio scripta querella suo. 
Tu quoque nomen habes cultos, Narcisse, per hortos, 

infelix, quod non alter et alter eras. 
Quid Crocon, aut Attin referam, Cinyraque creatum, 45 

de quorum per me volnere surgit honor ? 

261-274. 

Forsitan in teneris tantum mea regna coronis 

esse putes. Tangit numen et arva meum. 
Si bene fioruerint segetes, erit area dives : 

si bene floruerit vinea, Bacchus erit, 50 

si bene fioruerint oleae, nitidissimus annus : 

pomaque proventum temporis huius habent. 
Flore semel laeso pereunt viciaeque fabaeque, 

et pereunt lentes, advena Nile, tuae. 
Vina quoque in magnis operose condita cellis 55 

florent, et nebulae dolia summa tegunt. 
Mella meum munus. Volucres ego mella daturas 

ad violam et cytisos et thyma cana voco. 
Nos quoque idem facimus tunc, cum iuvenalibus annis 

luxuriant animi, corporaque ipsa vigent.' 6° 



IX. 

TRISTIA. I. 6. 

Nec tantum Clario Lyde dilecta poetae, 
nee tantum Coo Bittis amata suo est, 

pectoribus quantum tu nostris, uxor, inhaeres, 
digna minus misero, non meliore viro. 



2x.] Tristia. 113 

Te mea supposita veluti trabe fulta ruina est : 5 

siquid adhuc ego sum, muneris omne tui est. 
Tu facis, ut spolium non sim, nee nuder ab illis, 

naufragii tabulas qui petiere mei. 
Utque rap ax stimulante fame cupidusque cruoris 

incustoditum captat ovile lupus, 10 

aut ut edax vultur corpus circumspicit ecquod 

sub nulla positum cernere possit humo, 
sic mea nescio quis, rebus male fidus acerbis, 

in bona venturus, si paterere, fuit. 
Hunc tua per fortes virtus summovit amicos, *S 

nulla quibus reddi gratia digna potest. 
Ergo quam misero, tarn vero teste probaris, 

hie aliquod pondus si modo testis habet. 
Nee probitate tua prior est aut Hectoris uxor, 

aut comes extincto Laodamia viro. 20 

Tu si Maeonium vatem sortita fuisses, 

Penelopes esset fama secunda tuae : 
sive tibi hoc debes, nulla pia facta magistra, 

cumque nova mores sunt tibi luce dati, 
femina seu princeps omnes tibi culta per annos 2 5 

te docet exemplum coniugis esse bonae, 
assimilemque sui longa assuetudine fecit, 

grandia si parvis assimilare licet. 
Ei mihi, non magnas quod habent mea carmina vires, 

nostraque sunt meritis ora minora tuis, 30 

siquid et in nobis vivi fuit ante vigoris, 

extinctum longis occidit omne malis. 
Prima locum sanctas heroidas inter haberes, 

prima bonis animi conspicerere tui. 
Quantumcumque tamen praeconia nostra valebunt, 35 

carminibus vives tempus in omne meis. 



M. ANNAEI LUCANI PHARSALIA. 



LIBER PRIMUS. 

BELLA per Emathios plus quam civilia campos 
iusque datum sceleri canimus, populumque potentem 
in sua victrici conversum viscera dextra, 
cognatasque acies, et rupto foedere regni 
certatum totis concussi viribus orbis 5 

in commune nefas, infestisque obvia signis 
signa, pares aquilas, et pila minantia pilis. 

Quis furor, o cives, quae tanta licentia ferri, 
gentibus invisis Latium praebere cruorem? 
Quumque superba foret Babylon spolianda trophaeis 10 
Ausoniis, umbraque erraret Crassus inulta, 
bella geri placuit nullos habitura triumphos ? 
Heu quantum terrae potuit pelagique parari 
hoc, quern civiles hauserunt, sanguine, dextrae, 
unde venit Titan, et nox ubi sidera condit, *5 

quaque dies medius flagrantibus aestuat horis, 
et qua bruma, rigens ac nescia vere remitti, 
adstringit Scythico glacialem frigore pontum ! 
Sub iuga iam Seres, iam barbarus isset Araxes, 
et gens si qua iacet nascenti conscia Nilo. 2° 

Tunc, si tantus amor belli tibi, Roma, nefandi, 
totum sub Latias leges quum miseris orbem, 
in te verte manus : nondum tibi defuit hostis. 
At nunc semirutis pendent quod moenia tectis 
urbibus Italiae, lapsisque ingentia muris 2 5 

saxa iacent, nulloque domus custode tenentur, 

"5 



n6 Lucani Pharsalia. 

rarus et antiquis habitator in urbibus errat, 

horrida quod dumis, multosque inarata per annos 

Hesperia est, desuntque manus poscentibus arvis, 

non tu, Pyrrhe ferox, nee tantis cladibus auctor 3° 

Poenus erit : nulli penitus discindere ferro 

contigit : alta sedent civilis vulnera dextrae. 

Quod si non aliam venturo fata Neroni 

invenere viam, magnoque aeterna parantur 

regna deis, coelumque suo servire tonanti 35 

non nisi saevorum potuit post bella gigantum, 

iam nihil, o superi, querimur : scelera ipsa nefasque 

hac mercede placent : diros Pharsalia campos 

impleat, et Poeni saturentur sanguine manes ; 

ultima funesta concurrant proelia Munda. 4° 

His, Caesar, Perusina fames, Mutinaeque labores 

accedant fatis ; et, quas premit aspera, classes, 

Leucas ; et ardenti servilia bella sub Aetna : 

multum Roma tamen debet civilibus armis, 

quod tibi res acta est. 45 

67-227. 

Fert animus causas tantarum expromere rerum, 
immensumque aperitur opus, quid in arma furentem 
impulerit populum, quid pacem excusserit orbi. 
Invida fatorum series, summisque negatum 
stare diu ; nimioque graves sub pondere lapsus ; 50 

nee se Roma ferens. Sic, quum, compage soluta, 
saecula tot mundi suprema coegerit hora, 
antiquum repetent iterum chaos omnia ; mixtis 
sidera sideribus concurrent : ignea pontum 
astra petent : tellus extendere litora nolet, 55 

excutietque fretum : fratri contraria Phoebe 
ibit, et, obliquum bigas agitare per orbem 
indignata, diem poscet sibi : totaque discors 
machina divulsi turbabit foedera mundi. 



Liber Primus. 117 

In se magna ruunt : laetis hunc numina rebus 60 

crescendi posuere modum ; nee gentibus ullis 
commodat in populum, terrae pelagique potentem, 
invidiam Fortuna suam. Tu caussa malorum, 
facta tribus dominis communis, Roma, nee umquam 
in tur.bam missi feralia foedera regni. 65 

O male Concordes nimiaque cupidine caeci, 
quid miscere iuvat vires, orbemque tenere 
in medio ? Dum terra fretum, terramque levabit 
aer, et longi volvent Titana labores, 
noxque diem coelo totidem per signa sequetur, 7° 

nulla fides regni sociis, omnisque potestas 
impatiens consortis erit. Nee gentibus ullis 
credite, nee longe fatorum exempla petantur. 
Fraterno primi maduerunt sanguine muri. 
Nee pretium tanti tellus pontusque furoris 75 

tunc erat : exiguum dominos commisit asylum. 
Temporis angusti mansit concordia discors ; 
paxque fuit non sponte ducum. Nam sola futuri 
Crassus erat belli medius mora. Qualiter, undas 
qui secat et geminum gracilis mare separat Isthmos 80 
nee patitur conferre fretum, si terra recedat, 
Ionium Aegaeo franget mare : sic, ubi, saeva 
arma ducum dirimens, miserando funere Crassus 
Assyrias Latio maculavit sanguine Carras, 
Parthica Romanos solverunt damna furores. 8 5 

Plus ilia vobis acie, quam creditis, actum est, 
Arsacidae : bellum victis civile dedistis. 
Dividitur ferro regnum : populique potentis, 
quae mare, quae terras, quae totum continet orbem, 
non cepit fortuna duos. Nam pignora iuncti 90 

sanguinis et diro ferales omine tedas 
abstulit ad manes, Parcarum, Iulia, saeva 
intercepta manu. Quodsi tibi fata dedissent 
maiores in luce moras, tu sola furentes 



Ii8 Lticani Pharsalia. 

inde virum poteras atque hinc retinere parenteral, 95 

armatasque manus excusso iimgere ferro, 

ut generos mediae soceris iunxere Sabinae. 

Morte tua discussa fides, bellumque movere 

permissum ducibus. Stimulos dedit aemula virtus. 

Tu nova ne veteres obscurent facta triumphos, I0 ° 

et victis cedat piratica laurea Gallis, 

Magne, times : te iam series ususque laborum, 

erigit, impatiensque loci fortuna secundi. 

Nee quemquam iam ferre potest Caesarve priorem 

Pompeiusve parem. Quis iustius induit arma, I0 5 

scire nefas : magno se iudice quisque tuetur : 

victrix causa deis placuit, sed victa Catoni. 

Nee coiere pares : alter, vergentibus annis 

in senium longoque togae tranquillior usu, 

dedidicit iam pace ducem ; famaeque petitor, IIQ 

multa dare in vulgus ; totus popularibus auris 

impelli, plausuque sui gaudere theatri : 

nee reparare novas vires, multumque priori 

credere fortunae. Stat magni nominis umbra : 

qualis frugifero quercus sublimis in agro 1Z 5 

exuvias veteres populi sacrataque gestans 

dona ducum : nee iam validis radicibus haerens, 

pondere fixa suo est : nudosque per aera ramos 

effundens, trunco, non frondibus, efficit umbram ; 

et quamvis primo nutet casura sub Euro, I2 ° 

tot circum silvae firmo se robore tollant, 

sola tamen colitur. Sed non in Caesare tantum 

nomen erat, nee fama ducis : sed nescia virtus 

stare loco : solusque pudor, non vincere bello. 

Acer et indomitus ; quo spes, quoque ira vocasset, I2 5 

ferre manum, et numquam temerando parcere ferro : 

successus urgere suos, instare favori 

numinis : impellens quidquid sibi, summa petenti, 

obstaret, gaudensque viam fecisse ruina. 



Liber Primus. 119 

Qualiter expressum ventis per nubila fulmen 130 

aetheris impulsi sonitu, mundique fragore 

emicuit, rupitque diem, populosque paventis 

terruit, obliqua praestringens lumina flamma, 

in sua templa furit : nullaque exire vetante 

materia, magnamque cadens, magnamque revertens 135 

dat stragem late, sparsosque recolligit ignes. 

Hae ducibus caussae suberant : sed publica belli 
semina, quae populos semper mersere potentes. 
Namque ut opes mundo nimias fortuna subacto 
intulit et rebus mores cessere secundis, x 4° 

praedaque et hostiles luxum suasere rapinae : 
non auro, tectisque modus : mensasque priores 
aspernata fames : cultus, gestare decoros 
vix nuribus, rapuere mares : fecunda virorum 
paupertas fugitur ; totoque accersitur orbe, *45 

quo gens quaeque perit. Turn longos iungere fines 
agrorum, et quondam duro sulcata Camilli 
vomere, et antiquos Curiorum passa.ligones . 
longa sub ignotis extender e rura colonis. 
Non erat is populus, quern pax tranquilla iuvaret, *5° 
quern sua libertas immotis pasceret armis. 
Inde irae faciles ; et, quod suasisset egestas, 
vile nefas ; magnumque decus, ferroque petendum, 
plus patria potuisse sua ; mensuraque iuris 
vis erat : hinc leges et plebiscita coactae, *55 

et cum consulibus turbantes iura tribuni : 
hinc rapti fasces pretio, sectorque favoris 
ipse sui populus ; letalisque ambitus urbi, 
annua venali referens certamina Campo : 
hinc usura vorax, avidumque in tempora faenus, l6 ° 
et concussa fides, et multis utile bellum. 

lam gelidas Caesar cursu superaverat Alpes, 
ingentesque animo motus, bellumque futurum 
ceperat. Ut ventum est parvi Rubiconis ad undas, 



120 Lucani Pharsalia. 

ingens visa duci Patriae trepidantis imago * 6 S 

clara per obscuram voltu moestissima noctem, 

turrigero canos effundens vertice crines, 

caesarie lacera, nudisque adstare lacertis, 

et gemitu permixta loqui : ' Quo tenditis ultra ? 

Quo fertis mea signa, viri? Si iure venitis, *7° 

si cives, hue usque licet.' Turn perculit horror 

membra ducis ; riguere comae, gressusque coercens 

languor in extrema tenuit vestigia ripa. 

Mox ait : ' O magnae qui moenia prospicis urbis 

Tarpeia de rupe, Tonans, Phrygiique penates *75 

gentis Iuleae, et rapti secreta Quirini, 

et residens celsa Latialis Iuppiter Alba, 

vestalesque foci, summique o numinis instar 

Roma, fave coeptis. Non te furialibus armis 

persequor. En, adsum, victor terraque marique l8 ° 

Caesar, ubique tuus, liceat modo, nunc quoque, miles. 

Ille erit, ille nocens, qui me tibi fecerit hostem.' 

Inde moras solvit belli, tumidumque per amnem 

signa tulit propere. Sicut squalentibus arvis 

aestiferae Libyes viso leo comminus hoste l8 5 

subsedit dubius, totam dum colligit iram ; 

mox ubi se saevae stimulavit verbere caudae 

erexitque iubas, vasto et grave murmur hiatu 

infremuit : turn torta levis si lancea Mauri 

haereat, aut latum subeant venabula pectus, 19° 

per ferrum, tanti securus vulneris, exit. 

Fonte cadit modico, parvisque impellitur undis 
puniceus Rubicon, cum fervida canduit aestas : 
perque imas serpit valles, et Gallica certus 
limes ab Ausoniis disterminat arva colonis. *95 

Turn vires praebebat hiems, atque auxerat undas 
tertia iam gravido pluvialis Cynthia cornu, 
et madidis Euri resolutae flatibus Alpes. 
Primus in obliquum sonipes opponitur amnem, 



Liber Tertius. 121 

excepturus aquas : molli turn cetera rumpit 20 ° 

turba vado faciles iam fracti fluminis undas. 

Caesar ut adversam, superato gurgite, ripam 

attigit, Hesperiae vetitis et constitit arvis : 

1 Hie/ ait, ' hie pacem temerataque iura relinquo ; 

te, Fortuna, sequor. Procul hinc iam foedera sunto. 20 S 

Credidimus fatis. Utendum est iudice bello.' 



LIBER TERTIUS. 

388-452. 

Iam satis hoc Graiae memorandum contigit urbi, 
aeternumque decus, quod non impulsa, nee ipso 
strata metu, tenuit flagrantis in omnia belli 
praecipitem cursum : raptisque a Caesare cunctis, 
vincitur una mora. Quantum est, quod fata tenentur, 5 
quodque virum toti properans imponere mundo 
hos perdit Fortuna dies ! Tunc omnia late 
procumbunt nemora, et spoliantur robore silvae : 
ut, cum terra levis mediam virgultaque molem 
suspendant, structa laterum compage ligatam IO 

arctet humum, pressus ne cedat turribus agger. 
Lucus erat longo numquam violatus ab aevo, 
obscurum cingens connexis aera ramis, 
et gelidas alte submotis solibus umbras. 
Hunc non ruricolae Panes, nemorumque potentes X S 
Silvani Nymphaeque tenent, sed barbara ritu 
sacra deum, structae diris altaribus arae ; 
omnisque humanis lustrata cruoribus arbos. 
Si qua fidem meruit superos mirata vetustas, 
illis et volucres metuunt insistere ramis, 20 

et lustris recubare ferae : nee ventus in illas 



122 Lucani Pharsalia. 

incubuit silvas, excussaque nubibus atris 

fulgura : non ullis frondem praebentibus auris, 

arboribus suus horror inest. Turn plurima nigris 

fontibus unda cadit, simulacraque moesta deorum 25 

arte carent, caesisque extant informia truncis. 

Ipse situs, putrique facit iam robore pallor 

attonitos : non vulgatis sacrata figuris 

numina sic metuunt : tantum terroribus addit, 

quos timeant non nosse deos. Iam fama ferebat 3° 

saepe cavas motu terrae mugire cavernas, 

et procumbentes iterum consurgere taxos, 

et non ardentis fulgere incendia silvae, 

roboraque amplexos circumfluxisse dracones. 

Non ilium cultu populi propiore frequentant, 35 

sed cessere deis. Medio cum Phoebus in axe est, 

aut coelum nox atra tenet, pavet ipse sacerdos 

accessus, dominumque timet deprendere luci. 

Hanc iubet immisso silvam procumbere ferro : 
nam vicina open, belloque intacta priore 40 

inter nudatos stabat densissima montes. 
Sed fortes tremuere manus, motique verenda 
maiestate loci, si robora sacra ferirent, 
in sua credebant redituras membra secures. 
Implicitas magno Caesar torpore cohortes 45 

ut vidit, primus raptam vibrare bipennem 
ausus, et aeriam ferro proscindere quercum, 
effatur, merso violata in robora ferro : 
' Iam ne quis vestrum dubitet subvertere silvam, 
credite me fecisse nefas.' Tunc paruit omnis 5° 

imperiis non sublato secura pavore 
turba, sed expensa superorum et Caesaris ira. 
Procumbunt orni, nodosa impellitur ilex, 
silvaque Dodones, et fluctibus aptior alnus, 
et non plebeios luctus testata cupressus, 55 

turn primum posuere comas, et fronde carentes 



Liber Quartus. 123 

admisere diem : propulsaque robore denso 
sustinuit se silva cadens. Gemuere videntes 
Gallorum populi : muris sed clausa iuventus 
exsultat. Quis enim laesos impune putaret 60 

esse deos ? Servat multos fortuna nocentes : 
et tantum miseris irasci numina possunt. 
Utque satis caesi nemoris, quaesita per agros 
plaustra ferunt : curvoque soli cessantis aratro 
agricolae raptis annum flevere iuvencis. 6 S 



LIBER QUARTUS. 
167-205. 

Dixit, et ad montes tendentem praevenit hostem. 
Illic exiguo paullum distantia vallo 
castra locant. Postquam spatio languentia nullo 
mutua conspicuos habuerunt lumina vultus, 
et fratres natosque suos videre, patresque ; 5 

deprensum est civile nefas : tenuere parumper 
ora metu : tantum nutu motoque salutant 
ense suos. Mox ut stimulis maioribus ardens 
rupit amor leges, audet transcendere vallum 
miles, in amplexus effusas tendere palmas. IO 

Hospitis ille ciet noraen ; vocat ille propinquum : 
admonet hunc studiis consors puerilibus aetas : 
nee Romanus erat, qui non agnoverat hostem. 
Arma rigant lacrimis, singultibus oscula rumpunt : 
et, quamvis nullo maculatus sanguine, miles, J 5 

quae potuit fecisse, timet. Quid pectora pulsas ? 
Quid, vesane, gemis ? fletus quid fundis inanes, 
nee te sponte tua sceleri parere fateris ? 
Usque adeone times, quern tu facis ipse timendum ? 



124 Lucani Pharsalia. 

Classica dent bellum ; saevos tu neglige cantus : 2° 

signa ferant ; cessa : iamiam civilis Erinnys 

concidet, et Caesar generum privatus amabit. 

Nunc ades, aeterno complectens omnia nexu, 

O rerum mixtique salus, Concordia, mundi, 

et sacer orbis amor : magnum nunc saecula nostra 25 

venturi discrimen habent. Periere latebrae 

tot scelerum : populo venia est erepta nocenti : 

agnovere suos. Pro numine fata sinistro, 

exigua requie tantas augentia clades ! 

pax erat, et miles, castris permixtus utrisque, 3° 

errabat : duro Concordes cespite mensas 

instituunt, et permixto libamina Baccho 

gramineis fluxere focis : iunctoque cubili 

extrahit insomnes bellorum fabula noctes : 

quo primum steterint campo, qua lancea dextra 35 

exierit. Dum, quae gesserunt fortia, iactant, 

et dum multa negant, quod solum fata petebant, 

est miseris renovata fides, atque orane futurum 

crevit amore nefas. 



LIBER QUINTUS. 
497-604. 

His terque quaterque 
vocibus excitum postquam cessare videbat, 
dum se deesse deis, ac non sibi numina, credit, 
sponte per incautas audet tentare tenebras, 
quod iussi timuere, fretum : temeraria prono 
expertus cessisse deo : fluctusque, verendos 
classibus, exigua sperat superare carina. 

Solverat armorum fessas nox languida curas : 
parta quies miseris, in quorum pectora somno 



Liber Quintus. 125 

dat vires fortuna minor. lam castra silebant, IO 

tertia iam vigiles commoverat hora secundos : 

Caesar sollicito per vasta silentia gressu 

vix famulis audenda parat : cunctisque relictis, 

sola placet Fortuna comes. Tentoria postquam 

egressus, vigilum somno cedentia membra X S 

transiluit, questus tacite quod fallere posset. 

Litora curva legit, primisque invenit in undis, 

rupibus exesis haerentem fune, carinam. 

Rectorem dominumque ratis secura tenebat 

haud procul inde domus, non ullo robore fulta, 2 ° 

sed sterili iunco, cannaque intexta palustri, 

et latus inversa nudum munita phaselo. 

Haec Caesar bis terque manu quassantia tectum 

limina commovit. Molli consurgit Amyclas, 

quern dabat alga, toro. ' Quisnam mea naufragus/ inquit, 

' tecta petit ? aut quern nostrae Fortuna coegit 2 5 

auxilium sperare casae ? ' Sic fatus, ab alto 

aggere iam tepidae sublato fune favillae, 

scintillam tenuem commotos pavit in ignes : 

securus belli : praedam civilibus armis 3° 

scit non esse casas. O vitae tuta facultas 

pauperis, angustique lares ! o munera nondum 

intellecta deum ! Quibus hoc contingere templis, 

aut potuit muris, nullo trepidare tumultu, 

Caesarea pulsante manu ? Turn poste recluso, 35 

dux ait : ' Exspecta votis maiora modestis, 

spesque tuas laxa, iuvenis. Si, iussa secutus, 

me vehis Hesperiam, non ultra cuncta carinae 

debebis, manibusve inopem duxisse senectam. 

Ne cessa praebere deo tua fata, volenti 40 

angustos opibus subitis implere Penates.' 

Sic fatur : quamquam plebeio tectus amictu, 

indocilis privata loqui. Turn pauper Amyclas : 

1 Multa quidem prohibent nocturno credere ponto. 



126 Lucani Pharsalia. 

Nam sol non rutilas deduxit in aequora nubes, 45 

concordesque tulit radios. Noton altera Phoebi 

altera pars Borean diducta luce vocabat. 

Orbe quoque exhaustus medio, languensque recessit, 

spectantes oculos infirmo lumine passus : 

lunaque non gracili surrexit lucida cornu, 5° 

aut orbis medii puros exesa recessus : 

nee duxit recto tenuata cacumina cornu, 

ventorumque nota rubuit : turn lurida pallens 

ora tulit, vultu sub nubem tristis ituro. 

Sed mihi nee motus nemorum, nee litoris ictus, 55 

nee placet incertus, qui provocat aequora, Delphin : 

aut siccum quod mergus amat, quodque ausa volare 

ardea sublimis, pennae conflsa natanti ; 

quodque caput spargens undis, velut occupet imbrem, 

instabili gressu metitur litora cornix. 6o 

Sed si magnarum poscunt discrimina rerum, 

haud dubitem praebere manus : vel litora tangam 

iussa, vel hoc potius pelagus flatusque negabunt.' 

Haec fatus, solvensque ratem, dat carbasa ventis : 

ad quorum motus non solum lapsa per altum 6 5 

aera dispersos traxere cadentia sulcos 

sidera : sed summis etiam quae fixa tenentur 

astra polis, sunt visa quati. Niger inficit horror 

terga maris : longo per multa volumina tractu 

aestuat unda minax, flatusque incerta futuri : 70 

turbida testantur conceptos aequora ventos. 

Tunc rector trepidae fatur ratis : ' Adspice, saevum 

quanta paret pelagus. Zephyros intendat, an Euros, 

incertum est. Puppim dubius ferit undique pontus. 

Nubibus et coelo Notus est : si murmura ponti 75 

consulimus, Cori verrunt mare. Gurgite tanto, 

nee ratis Hesperias tanget, nee naufragus, oras. 

Desperare viam et vetitos convertere cursus, 

sola salus. Liceat vexata litora puppe 



Liber Quintus. 127 

prendere, ne longe nimium sit proxima tellus.' 8o 

Fisus cuncta sibi cessura pericula Caesar, 
'sperne minas,' inquit, 'pelagi, ventoque furenti 
trade sinum. Italiam si coelo auctore recusas, 
me pete. Sola tibi caussa haec est iusta timoris, 
vectorem non nosse tuum, quern numina numquam 85 
destituunt, de quo male tunc Fortuna meretur, 
cum post vota venit. Medias perrumpe procellas, 
tutela secure mea. Coeli iste fretique, 
non puppis nostrae, labor est : hanc Caesare pressam 
a fluctu defendet onus. Nee longa furori 9° 

ventorum saevo dabitur mora : proderit undis 
ista ratis. Ne flecte manus : fuge proxima velis 
litora : turn Calabro portu te crede potitum, 
cum iam non poterit puppi nostraeque saluti 
altera terra dari. Quid tanta strage paretur, 95 

ignoras ? Quaerit pelagi coelique tumultu 
quid praestet Fortuna mini. 7 Non plura locuto 
avulsit laceros, percussa puppe, rudentes 
turbo rapax, fragilemque super volitantia malum 
vela tulit : sonuit victis compagibus alnus. i°o 

Inde ruunt toto congesta pericula mundo. 
Primus ab Oceano caput exeris Atlanteo, 
Core, movens aestus : iam te tollente furebat 
pontus, et in scopulos totas erexerat undas. 
Occurrit gelidus Boreas, pelagusque retundit : *°5 

et dubium pendet, vento cui pareat, aequor. 
Sed Scythici vicit rabies Aquilonis, et undas 
torsit ; et abstrusas penitus vada fecit arenas. 

653-677. 



Credit iam digna pericula Caesar 
fatis esse suis. 'Tantusne evertere/ dixit, 
' me superis labor est : parva quern puppe sedentem 
tarn magno petiere mari? Si gloria leti 



no 



128 Lucani Pharsalia. 

est pelago donata mei, bellisque negamur ; 

intrepidus, quamcumque datis mihi, numina, mortem 

accipiam. Licet ingentes abruperit actus XI 5 

festinata dies fatis ; sat magna peregi. 

Arctoas domui gentes : inimica subegi 

arma metu : vidit Magnum mihi Roma secundum : 

iussa plebe tuli fasces per bella negatos. 

Nulla meis aberit titulis Romana potestas. I2 ° 

Nesciet hoc quisquam, nisi tu, quae sola meorum 

conscia votorum es, me, quamvis plenus honorum 

et dictator earn Stygias et consul ad umbras, 

privatum, Fortuna, mori. Mihi funere nullo 

est opus, o superi : lacerum retinete cadaver I2 5 

fiuctibus in mediis : desint mihi busta rogusque, 

dum metuar semper, terraque exspecter ab omni.' 

Haec fatum decimus, dictu mirabile, fluctus 

invalida cum puppe levat ; nee rursus ab alto 

aggere deiecit pelagi, sed pertulit unda, *3o 

scruposisque angusta vacant ubi litora saxis, 

imposuit terrae. Pariter tot regna, tot urbes 

fortunamque suam, tacta tellure, recepit. 



LIBER SEXTUS. 
775-821. 

Addidit et carmen, quo, quidquid consulit, umbram 

scire dedit. Moestum, fletu manante, cadaver, 

' trista non equidem Parcarum stamina/ dixit, 

' respexi, tacitae revocatus ab aggere ripae : 

quod tamen e cunctis mihi noscere contigit umbris, 5 

effera Romanos agitat discordia manes, 

impiaque infernam ruperunt arma quietem. 



Liber Sextus. 129 

Elysias alii sedes, ac Tartara moesta 

diversi liquere duces : quid fata pararent, 

hi fecere palam. Tristis felicibus umbris IO 

vultus erat. Vidi Decios, natumque, patremque, 

lustrales bellis animas, flentemque Camillum, 

et Curios ; Sullam de te, Fortuna, querentem. 

Deplorat Libycis perituram Scipio terris 

infaustam sobolem. Maior Carthaginis hostis, Z S 

non servituri moeret Cato fata nepotis. 

Solum te, consul depulsis prime tyrannis 

Brute, pias inter gaudentem vidimus umbras. 

Abruptis Catilina minax, fractisque catenis 

exsultat, Mariique truces, nudique Cethegi. 20 

Vidi ego laetantes, popularia nomina, Drusos ; 

legibus immodicos, ausosque ingentia Gracchos. 

Aeternis chalybum nodis, et carcere Ditis 

constrictae plausere manus, camposque piorum 

poscit turba nocens. Regni possessor inertis 2 S 

pallentes aperit sedes, abruptaque saxa 

asperat, et durum vinclis adamanta, paratque 

poenam victori. Refer haec solatia tecum, 

o iuvenis, placido manes patremque domumque 

exspectare sinu, regnique in parte serena 30 

Pompeio servare locum. Nee gloria parvae 

sollicitet vitae : veniet, quae misceat omnes 

hora duces. Properate mori, magnoque superbi 

quamvis e parvis animo descendite bustis, 

et Romanorum manes calcate deorum. 35 

Quern tumulum Nili, quern Tybridis abluat unda, 

quaeritur, et ducibus tantum de funere pugna est. 

Tu fatum ne quaere tuum cognoscere : Parcae, 

me reticente, dabunt : tibi certior omnia vates 

ipse canet Siculis genitor Pompeius in arvis : 4° 

ille quoque incertus, quo te vocet, unde repellat, 

quas iubeat vitare plagas, quae sidera mundi. 



130 Lticani Pharsalia. 

Europam miseri, Libyamque, Asiamque timete : 

distribuit tumulos vestris Fortuna triumphis. 

O miseranda domus, toto nihil orbe videbis 45 

tutius Emathia.' Sic postquam fata peregit, 

stat vultu moestus tacito, mortemque reposcit. 



LIBER NONUS. 

I-35- 

At non in Pharia manes iacuere favilla, 

nee cinis exiguus tantam compescuit umbram. 

Prosiluit busto, semiustaque membra relinquens, 

degeneremque rogum, sequitur convexa Tonantis, 

qua niger astriferis connectitur axibus aer, 5 

quaque patet terras inter lunaeque meatus ; 

(semidei manes habitant, quos ignea virtus 

innocuos vita patientes aetheris imi 

fecit) et aeternos animam collegit in orbes. 

Non illuc auro positi, nee ture sepulti I0 

perveniunt. Illic postquam se lumine vero 

implevit, stellasque vagas miratur, et astra 

fixa polis, vidit quanta sub nocte iaceret 

nostra dies, risitque sui ludibria trunci. 

Hinc super Emathiae campos, et signa cruenti l S 

Caesaris, ac sparsas volitavit in aequore classes, 

et scelerum vindex in sancto pectore Bruti 

sedit, et invicti posuit se mente Catonis. 

Ille, ubi pendebant casus, dubiumque manebat, 

quern mundi dominum facerent civilia bella, 20 

oderat et Magnum, quamvis comes isset in arma 

auspiciis raptus patriae, ductuque senatus : 

at post Thessalicas clades iam pectore toto 



Liber Nonus. 131 

Pompeianus erat. Patriam tutore carentem 

excepit, populi trepidantia membra refovit, 2 5 

ignavis manibus proiectos reddidit enses : 

nee regnum cupiens gessit civilia bella, 

nee servire timens. Nil causa fecit in armis 

ipse sua : totae post Magni funera partes 

libertatis erant : quas ne per litora fusas 3° 

colligeret rapido victoria Caesaris actu, 

Corcyrae secreta petit, ac mille carinis 

abstulit Emathiae secum fragmenta ruinae. 

Quis ratibus tantis fugientia crederet ire 

agmina ? quis pelagus victas arctasse carinas ? 35 

109-140. 167-217. 

Sic ubi fata, caput ferali obduxit amictu, 
decrevitque pati tenebras, puppisque cavernis 
delituit : saevumque arete complexa dolorem 
perfruitur lacrimis, et amat pro coniuge luctum. 
Mam non fluctus stridensque rudentibus Eurus 5 

movit, et exsurgens ad summa pericula clamor : 
votaque sollicitis faciens contraria nautis, 
composita in mortem iacuit, favitque procellis. 

Prima ratem Cypros spumantibus accipit undis : 
inde tenens pelagus, sed iam moderatior, Eurus I0 

in Libycas egit sedes, et castra Catonis. 
Tristis, ut in multo mens est praesaga timore, 
adspexit patrios comites e litore Magnus, 
et fratrem : medias praeceps tunc fertur ad undas : 
1 Die ubi sit, germane, parens : stat summa caputque 15 
orbis, an occidimus ? Romanaque Magnus ad umbras 
abstulit ? ' Haec fatur : quern contra talia frater : 
' O felix, quern Fors alias dispersit in oras, 
quique nefas audis : oculos, germane, nocentes 
spectato genitore fero. Non Caesaris armis 2° 



132 Lucani Pharsalia. 

occubuit, dignoque perit auctore ruinae : 

rege sub impuro, Nilotica rura tenente, 

hospitii fretus superis, et munere tanto 

in proavos, cecidit, donati victima regni. 

Vidi ego magnanimi lacerantes pectora patris : 2 5 

nee credens Pharium tantum potuisse tyrannum, 

litore Niliaco socerum iam stare putavi. 

Sed me nee sanguis, nee tantum vulnera nostri 

adfecere senis, quantum gestata per urbem 

ora ducis, quae transfixo sublimia pilo 30 

vidimus : haec, fama est, oculis victoris iniqui 

servari ; scelerisque fldem quaesisse tyrannum.' 

Interea totis, audito funere Magni, 
litoribus sonuit percussus planctibus aether : 
exemploque carens, et nulli cognitus aevo 35 

luctus erat, mortem populos deflere potentis. 
Sed magis, ut visa est lacrimis exhausta, solutas 
in vultus effusa comas, Cornelia puppi 
egrediens, rursus geminato verbere plangunt. 
Ut primum in sociae pervenit litora terrae, 40 

collegit vestes, miserique insignia Magni, 
armaque, et impressas auro, quas gesserat olim, 
exuvias, pictasque togas, velamina sum mo 
ter conspecta Iovi, funestoque intulit igni. 
Me fuit miserae Magni cinis. Accipit omnis 45 

exemplum pietas, et toto litore busta 
surgunt, Thessalicis reddentia manibus ignem. 
Sic, ubi depastis submittere gramina campis, 
et renovare parans hibernas Apulus herbas, 
igne fovet terras, simul et Garganus, et arva 5° 

Vulturis, et calidi lucent buceta Matini. 

Non tamen ad Magni pervenit gratius umbras, 
omne quod in superos audet convicia vulgus, 
Pompeiumque deis obicit, quam pauca Catonis 
verba, sed a pleno venientia pectore veri. 55 



Liber Nonus. 133 

,'Civis obit/ inquit, 'multo maioribus impar 
nosse modum iuris, sed in hoc tamen utilis aevo, 
cui non ulla fuit iusti reverentia : salva 
libertate potens, et solus plebe parata 6o 

privatus servire sibi, rectorque senatus, 
sed regnantis, erat. Nil belli hire poposcit : 
quaeque dari voluit, voluit sibi posse negari. 
Immodicas possedit opes : sed plura retentis 
intulit : invasit ferrum, sed ponere norat. 6 5 

Praetulit arma togae : sed pacem armatus amavit. 
Iuvit sumpta ducem, iuvit dimissa potestas. 
Casta domus, luxuque carens, corruptaque numquam 
fortuna domini. Clarum et venerabile nomen 
gentibus, et multum nostrae quod proderat urbi. i Q 

Olim vera fides, Sulla Marioque receptis, 
libertatis obit : Pompeio rebus adempto, 
nunc et ficta perit. Non iam regnare pudebit : 
nee color imperii, nee frons erit ulla senatus. 

felix, cui summa dies fuit obvia victo, 75 
et cui quaerendos Pharium scelus obtulit enses ! 
Eorsitan in soceri potuisset vivere regno. 

Scire mori, sors prima viris, sed proxima cogi. 

Et mihi, si fatis aliena in iura venimus, 

da talem, Fortuna, Iubam. Non deprecor hosti 8o 

servari, dum me servet cervice recisa.' 

Vocibus his maior, quam si Romana sonarent 
rostra ducis laudes, generosam venit ad umbram 
mortis honos. 

255- 2 93- 

Erupere ducis sacro de pectore voces : 

1 Ergo pari voto gessisti bella, iuventus, 

tu quoque pro dominis, et Pompeiana fuisti, 

non Romana manus ? Quod non in regna laboras, 

quod tibi, non ducibus, vivis morerisque, quod orbem 5 



134 Lucani Pkarsalia. 

adquiris nulli, quod iam tibi vincere tutum est, 

bella fugis, quaerisque iugum cervice vacante, 

et nescis sine rege pati ? Nunc caussa pericli 

digna viris. Vestro potuit Pompeius abuti 

sanguine : nunc patriae iugulos ensesque negatis, 10 

cum prope libertas ? Unum Fortuna reliquit 

iam tribus e dominis. Pudeat : plus regia Nili 

contulit in leges, et Parthi militis arcus. 

Ite, o degeneres, Ptolemaei munus et arma 

spernite. Quis vestras ulla putet esse nocentes *5 

caede manus ? Credet faciles sibi terga dedisse, 

credet ab Emathiis primos fugisse Philippis. 

Vadite securi : meruistis iudice vitam 

Caesare, non armis, non obsidione subacti. 

O famuli turpes, domini post fata prions 2° 

itis ad heredem. Cur non maiora mereri, 

quarn vitam veniamque libet ? Rapiatur in undas 

infelix Magni coniux, prolesque Metelli : 

ducite Pompeios : Ptolemaei vincite munus. 

Nostra quoque inviso quisquis feret ora tyranno, 2 S 

non parva mercede dabit. Sciet ista iuventus 

cervicis precio bene se mea signa secutam. 

Quin agite, et magna meritum cum caede parate : 

ignavum scelus est tantum fuga.' Dixit : et omnes 

haud aliter medio revocavit ab aequore puppes, 3° 

quam simul effetas linquunt examina ceras, 

atque oblita favi non miscent nexibus alas, 

sed sibi quaeque volat, nee iam degustat amarum 

desidiosa thymum : Phrygii sonus increpat aeris, 

attonitae posuere fugam, studiumque laboris 35 

floriferi repetunt, et sparsi mellis amorem : 

gaudet in Hyblaeo securus gramine pastor 

divitias servasse casae : sic voce Catonis 

inculcata viris iusti patientia Martis. 



Liber Nonus. 135 

511-523. 

Ventum erat ad templum, Libycis quod gentibus unum 
inculti Garamantes habent : stat sortifer istic 
Iuppiter, ut memorant, sed non aut fulmina vibrans, 
aut similis nostro, sed tortis cornibus Hammon. 
Non illic Libycae posuerunt ditia gentes 5 

templa : nee Eois splendent donaria gemmis : 
quamvis Aethiopum populis, Arabumque beatis 
gentibus, atque Indis unus sit Iuppiter Hammon, 
pauper adhuc deus est, nullis violata per aevum 
divitiis delubra tenens : morumque priorum IO 

numen Romano templum defendit ab auro. 
Esse locis superos, testatur silva, per omnem 
sola virens Libyen. 

544-604. 

Stabant ante fores populi, quos miserat Eos, 
cornigerique Iovis monitu nova fata petebant *5 

sed Latio cessere duci : comitesque Catonem 
orant, exploret Libycum memorata per orbem 
Numina, de fama tarn longi iudicet aevi. 
Maximus hortator scrutandi voce deorum 
eventus Labienus erat. 'Sors obtulit,' inquit, 20 

( et Fortuna viae tarn magni numinis ora 
consiliumque dei : tanto duce possumus uti 
per Syrtes, bellique datos cognoscere casus. 
Nam cui crediderim superos arcana daturos 
dicturosque magis, quam sancto vera Catoni? 2 5 

Certe vita tibi semper directa supernas 
ad leges, sequerisque deum. Datur, ecce, loquendi 
cum love libertas : inquire in fata nefandi 
Caesaris, et patriae venturos excute mores : 
iure suo populis uti, legumque licebit, 3° 

an bellum civile perit. Tua pectora sacra 
voce reple : durae semper virtutis amator 



136 Lucani Pharsalia. 

quaere quid est virtus, et posce exemplar honesti.' 

Ille deo plenus, tacita quern mente gerebat, 
effudit dignas adytis e pectore voces : 35 

i Quid quaeri, Labiene, iubes ? An liber in armis 
occubuisse velim potius, quam regna videre ? 
an sit vita nihil, et longa ? an differat aetas ? 
an noceat vis ulla bono ? Fortunaque perdat 
opposita virtute minas ? laudandaque velle • 40 

sit satis, et numquam successu crescat honestum ? 
Scimus, et haec nobis non altius inseret Hammon. 
Haeremus cuncti superis, temploque tacente, 
nil agimus nisi sponte dei : nee vocibus ullis 
numen eget : dixitque semel nascentibus auctor 45 

quidquid scire licet : steriles nee legit arenas, 
ut caneret paucis, mersitque hoc pulvere verum : 
estque dei sedes, ubi terra, et pontus, et aer, 
et coelum, et virtus. Superos quid quaerimus ultra? 
Iuppiter est, quodcumque vides, quodcumque moveris. 
Sortilegis egeant dubii, semperque futuris 5* 

casibus ancipites : me non oracula certum, 
sed mors certa facit : pavido fortique cadendum est. 
Hoc satis est dixisse Iovem.' Sic ille profatur : 
servataque fide templi discedit ab aris, 55 

non exploratum populis Hammona relinquens. 
Ipse manu sua pila gerens, praecedit anheli 
militis ora pedes : monstrat tolerare labores, 
non iubet : et nulla vehitur cervice supinus, 
carpentoque sedens. Somni parcissimus ipse est, 6° 
ultimus haustor aquae. Cum tandem fonte reperto 
indiga conatur laticis potare iuventus, 
stat, dum lixa bibat. Si veris magna paratur 
fama bonis, et si successu nuda remoto 
inspicitur virtus, quidquid laudamus in ullo 6 5 

maiorum, Fortuna fuit. Quis Marte secundo, 
quis tantum meruit populorum sanguine nomen ? 



Liber No mis. 137 

Hunc ego per Syrtes, Libyaeque extrema triumphum 

ducere maluerim, quam ter Capitolia curru 

scandere Pompeii, quam frangere colla Iugurthae. 7° 

Ecce parens verus patriae, dignissimus aris, 

Roma, tiiis ; per quern numquam iurare pudebit, 

et quern, si steteris umquam cervice soluta, 

tunc olim factura deum. 



NOTES TO CATULLUS. 



INTRODUCTION. 

GAIUS VALERIUS CATULLUS was born in Verona, in the 
year 84 B.C., probably of a wealthy senatorian or equestrian 
family. His father was one of the principal men of the province, 
and an intimate friend of Julius Caesar. 

His native district, Gallia Cisalpina, was even at that time one 
of "the chief literary centres of Italy"; not a few of the Latin 
authors of this Golden Age of Roman literature were natives of it, 
among them Cornelius Nepos, the biographer, Bibaculus, a writer 
of satiric iambics, and later, Virgil, Livy, Cornelius Gallus, one of 
the eminent elegiac writers, Aemilius Macer, and other poets ; and 
there, so far as is known, Catullus was educated. 

With the exception of occasional visits to his villas — one at 
Sirmio on Lake Benacus, the other on the border of the Tiburtine 
and Sabine territory — and to Verona, his residence from about the 
year 61 B.C. was at Rome. 

In this period of the ascendancy of the so-called first triumvirate 
the sympathies of Catullus, though he took no part in politics, were 
entirely and strongly with the party of the Republic, as not only his 
bold attacks upon Caesar, Mamurra, Piso, and others, but also his 
personal friendships (for the most part) bear witness. In the circle 
of his associates or acquaintances were the orator Hortensius, 
Cicero, the consulars Manlius Torquatus and Metellus Celer, 
Caelius Rufus, an orator and in public life, the poets Licinius Cal- 
vus, Helvius Cinna, and Asinius Pollio (who was however an adhe- 
rent of Caesar) , afterward very eminent also as an orator, historian, 
and patron of learning. 

In the society of such friends as these, men of intellectual ability 
and culture, and of social and political prominence, Catullus devoted 
himself to poetic composition, and all or nearly all his extant poems 
were written after his removal to Rome. 



140 Notes. 

Early in the year* 57 B.C., prompted by a desire for foreign travel 
in congenial society, and perhaps to better his fortunes, he went to 
Bithynia on the staff of the Propraetor Memmius, remained there until 
the next spring, then made a tour through some of the famous cities of 
Asia, visited his brother's grave in the Troad, and returned to Italy. 

His death is believed to have occurred in the year 54 B.C., the 
year of Caesars second invasion of Britain and of Crassus 1 expedi- 
tion against the Parthians, about a year later than the death of the 
poet Lucretius, and near the time of the publication of Cicero's De 
Orator e and De Legibus. 

Catullus was the earliest Latin writer of lyric and elegiac poetry 
and epigram. The extant collection of his poems contains a hun- 
dred and sixteen pieces in various metres and of varying length 
from two to four hundred and eight lines, not arranged however in 
the order of composition or by subjects. 

The first sixty are short lyrical or satiric pieces in phalaecian, 
glyconic, or satiric verse. Among the lyrics, which are the finest 
of all his productions, some of the most beautiful are the dedication 
of his yacht, the verses upon Sirmio and upon his departure from 
Bithynia, the festival hymn to Diana, his welcome to Veranius, the 
Acme and Septimius, and those upon the sparrow of " Lesbia," 
whose real name was Clodia (a sister of the notorious tribune 
Clodius). Several of his other poems also are addressed to her, 
and record his ardent passion, estrangement, partial reconciliation, 
and final renunciation. 

The next eight poems (LXI-LXVIII) are longer productions of 
a more purely artistic character, in hexameter, glyconic, and elegiac 
verse ; of which the most noted are the two epithalamia or marriage 
songs, the epyllion or heroic idyl, describing the mythical wedding 
of Peleus and Thetis, and those which give expression to his grief 
at the death of his brother. 

The remainder are epigrams and other short pieces in elegiac 
metre. Two of the latter, one addressed to Calvus on the loss of 
Quintilia and the other on visiting his brother's grave, are especially 
remarkable for their pathos and beauty. More than half of the 
epigrams, as well as many in the first group (poems I-LX), are 
satiric in character, and among these are the pieces which have 
been so justly censured for their indecencies and their coarse, scur- 
rilous personalities. 



Catullus. 141 

One of the most elaborate and appreciative critiques upon Catul- 
lus is that of Sellar, in his Roman Poets of the Republic. Momm- 
sen's brief characterization of his poems (IV, 702-704) is in part as 
follows : — 

" In this collection we meet with the melodious lament of the genuine elegy, 
the festal poem in the full pomp of individual and almost dramatic execution, 
above all, the freshest miniature-painting of cultivated social life, the pleasant 
and very unreserved amatory adventures of which half the charm consists in 
prattling and poetizing about the mysteries of love, the delightful life of youth, 
with full cups and empty purses, the pleasures of travel and of poetry, the 
Roman, and still more frequently, the Veronese anecdote of the town, and the 
humorous jest amidst the familiar circle of friends. But not only does Apollo 
touch the lyre of the poet, he wields also the bow; the winged dart of sarcasm 
spares neither the tedious verse-maker nor the provincial who corrupts the lan- 
guage, but it hits none more frequently and more sharply than the potentates 
by whom the liberty of the people is endangered. The short-lined and merry 
metres, often enlivened by a graceful refrain, are of finished art and yet free 
from the repulsive smoothness of the manufactory. The Latin nation has pro- 
duced no second poet in whom the artistic substance and the artistic form 
appear in so symmetrical perfection as in Catullus ; and in this sense the collec- 
tion of the poems of Catullus is certainly the most perfect which Latin poetry as 
a whole can show." 



A dedication to Cornelius Nepos, the biographer, of this col- 
lection of his poems, made not long before his death, according to 
the commonly-received opinion ; of either the shorter poems col- 
lectively or a part of them, in the judgment of Bruner, adopted by 
Ellis and others, on the ground that libellum is hardly applicable 
to so many poems, in such various metres, and is actually used of 
short single pieces. 

I. Quoi. For the form see * A. 104, b ; M. 86, Obs. 1; H. 187, foot- 
note 5. dono, am I to give, lepidum and novum are to be taken in a 
double sense, of the book itself and of the character of its contents. — 2. pu- 

* Abbreviations. — Latin Grammars : A. Allen and Greenough's. — G. Gilder- 
sleeve's. — H. Harkness's. — M. Madvig's. 

D. Doederlein's Latin Synonymes. — RIi. Rich's Greek and Roman Antiquities. — 
Xfcy. Ramsay's Roman Antiquities. — Lex. Harper's Latin Dictionary. 

For others, see the list of editions and other works given in the Appendix. 



142 Notes. [11. 

mice expolitum. After the volumen was completed and rolled up, both 
ends of the closed roll were smoothed and polished with pumice. See 
Becker's Gallus, p. 329 ; Ry., p. 461 ; and cf. VI, 6-8 and notes. The 
author represents himself as examining a copy of his book just finished and 
ready for sale, and considering the question of its dedication. — 4. ali- 
quid, antithetic to nugas, which is often used of short epigrammatic 
pieces. Cf. Hor. Sat. I, 9, 2 ; Mart. II, 86, 9 ; IX, 1, 5. Sn. translates : 
would set upon my trifles no trifling value. For Nepos' opinion of Catul- 
lus as a poet, see his life of Atticus, chap. XIII : . . . Z. Julium Calidum, 
quern post Lucretii Catullique morte?7i multo elegantissimum poetam nos- 
tram tulisse aetatem vere videor posse coiitendere. — 5. unus Italorum. 
There were several epitomes of history in Greek. — 6. omne aevum, i.e. 
the history of all time, chartis, books. The allusion is to the Chronica 
of Nepos, an epitome of universal history ; or, as some suppose, a com- 
parative chronology of Greek and Roman history. — 9. qualec unique, 
whatever its worth, patrona virgo, sc. the muse. 



II. 

On the death of a pet sparrow of Lesbia. 

"This elegy has all the charm of a fine entaglio, 'infinite riches in a little 
room.' The imitations and translations of later writers are innumerable. It is 
needless to say that the best of them only serve to make the unapproachable 
conciseness, delicacy, and finish of the original peculiarly conspicuous. It is 
not only individual words, but a pervading tenderness, couched in the endearing 
diminutives, and in the musical softness of the syllables, for which our language 
has no counterpart, that, even if it were possible to rekindle the feeling in which 
they were originally used, must always make this poem the despair of transla- 
tors." — Martin. 

2. quantum est, as many as there are. Cf. Plaut. Pseud. I, 3, 117; 
Ter. Haut. IV, 6, 6. For the usage see A. 216, 3; G. 371 ; H. 397, 
3, N. 5. — 6. suam is regarded as virtually a substantive, his lady, by 
Ellis, who cites Cic. Scaur. II, 9: cum audisset Arinem cum ilia sua; 
Tib. I, 4, 75 : pareat ille suae {his lady, i.e. wife) ; II, 5, 103 : Ferus ille 
suae plorabit, and who takes ipsain with matrem, her very mother. 
Simpson objects that this leaves suam incomplete, that it is awkward 
and un-Catullian to say ipsam tarn "bene quam, for tarn bene quam 
ipsam ; and following Doering takes ipsam with suam, his own mistress. 
Ellis, in turn, doubts whether Catullus would have combined suam ipsam 
= suam era?n, or would have allowed ipsam to stand so barely by itself at 
the beginning of the line. — 8. sese, emphatic. — 13. At, is here used, as 



in.] Catullus. 143 

often in prayers and imprecations that break out suddenly. M. 437, c, in 
fin. — 16. Vae . . . Vae. So Ellis. Other editors prefer . . . lo, or 
. . . O, ox proh. — 17. tua opera, through your doing. — 18. turgi- 
duli. A prominent characteristic of Catullus' diction is his frequent use 
of diminutives of almost all parts of speech. 



III. 

The yacht which had brought Catullus from Bithynia to Italy, in 
56 B.C., is shown by him to some guests at his villa in Sirmio, on 
Lake Benacus, and is represented as describing the course of its 
voyage, traced backward from the Adriatic to Amastris in Paphla- 
gonia, on the coast of the Euxine, where it was built. Starting 
from this place with its owner (or taking him on board at some 
port on the Propontis) it coasted along the Euxine and Propontis 
into the Hellespont ; thence along the east coast of Asia Minor to 
Rhodes, across the Aegaean, was transported over the Isthmus of 
Corinth, sailed through the Corinthian gulf, across the Adriatic, up 
the River Po into the Mincius, and so to the Lake Benacus. 

I. Phaselus, a light craft invented by the Egyptians, and supposed 
to have received its name from its resemblance to the pod of a kidney 
bean. It was rather long and narrow, built for speed, and of different 
sizes, from a mere row-boat to a vessel fitted with sails and adapted to long 
voyages. Rh. — celerrimus. For the case see A. 272, b; G. 535, 
Rem. 2; H. 536, 2; for the gender, M. 310, Obs. I: If the partitive 
genitive is of a different gender from the subject, the gender of the 
superlative should properly be always regulated by that of the genitive 
because it denotes a single object of that class ; but it is, notwithstanding, 
often regulated by that of the subject. — 3. ullius natantis trabis, of 
any craft afloat. — 6. In vs. 6-9 the description of the voyage is divided 
into three main sections by the particle ve. Mo. minacis, boisterous. 
— 8. nobilem, famous, horridam refers both to the physical features 
of Thrace and the uncivilized character of the people in contrast 
with the commerce and works of art of Rhodes. Thraciam, the 
Chersonesus Thracica, the shore north-west of the Hellespont. Es. 
Munro adopts the other interpretation, which •makes Thraciam an 
epithet of PropOntida, as symmetrical with trucem . . . sinum, and as 
required by his explanation of vs. 6-9. — 11. comata silva, a leafy 



144 Notes. [iv. 

wood. Cytorio iugo. Cytorus was a mountain, noted for its box-wood 
trees, on the coast, in that part of Paphlagonia which now belonged to 
the province of Bithynia. Near the foot of it was the city Amastris. — 
13. Amastri. For the form see A. 64; G. 72; H. 68, 3. Notice the 
sudden change to direct address. — 15. ultima ex origine, of remotest 
ancestry. Dg.; from the farthest point to which she can trace her origin. 
Es. Cf. Nepos, Atticus I ; Atticus ab origine ultima stir pis Romanae 
generatus. — 18. impotentia, raging. See Lex., s. v. — 19. laeva 
. . . aura, i.e.. whether sailing on the left or the right tack with the same 
wind, — a cross wind. Mo. — 20. Iuppiter secundus, a fair wind. — 
21. simul, emphatic, pedem, sc. veil, the rope attached to the lower 
corner of a square-sail for the purpose of setting it to the wind, the sheet. 
Rh. The wind, to strike both sheets, must be right astern and the sail 
set square to it. — 22. neque ulla vota, etc., i.e. had not been exposed to 
shipwreck. — 23. sibi, perhaps = a se, though this usage was very rare in 
the time of Catullus. — 24. novissimo, preferred by many editors to the 
reading of most Mss., novissime ; the most distant, i.e. the Pontus Euxinus. 
limpidum. The transparent and exquisite blue of the Lago di Gar da 
must have struck every one who has visited Sirmio on a bright day. Es. 
— 25. fuere. For the significance of the tense see A. 279, a ; G. 228, 1 ; 
H. 471, 1, 2). recondita agrees with quiete, the rest of retire?nent. — 
26. dedicat tibi, etc. Castor and Pollux were especially worshipped as 
the protectors of travellers by sea. 



IV. 

A hearty welcome to Veranius, a friend of Catullus, on his return 
from Spain, where he had been serving on the staff of Cn. Piso, 
B.C. 65. 

''The language of affection could not be uttered with more cordiality, sim- 
plicity, and grace than in this short poem of welcome. There is not a word 
wasted ; not one that does not come straight and strong from the heart." — 
Sellar. 

2. mihi, A. 236; G. 351; H. 389. milibus trecentis, i.e. any 
large number (of other friends).-— 6. incolumem, sc. after all the perils 
of your journey. — 7. nationes, tribes of the Iberian race. — 8. appli- 
cansque collum, drawing your neck towards me. — 10. Cf. II, v. 2. 



vi.] Catullus, 145 



V. 

A farewell message to Lesbia. One of Catullus' latest poems, 
written after Caesar's invasion of Britain, B.C. 55-54, as lines 10-12 
show. 

I. comites, sc. futuri, pledged to be companions. — 3. ut, where, 
used of local relations very rarely, litus . . . unda, 

" Where breaks on Ind's remotest shore 
The sea with far resounding roar." — MARTIN. 

— 7. colorat, covers with his dark slime. Sn. — 8. aequora, the plains. 

— 10. monimenta, great Caesar's trophies. Martin. — 11. Gallicum 
Rhenum, which Caesar w T as the first Roman to cross, horribilem in- 
sulam, the emendation of Ellis, who regards the epithet as referring to 
the barbarous character of the natives, which was exhibited in their cruelty 
to strangers, human sacrifices, and barbaric tattooing, and insulam as 
defined by Brittannos. The reading of the Mss. is horribiles. — 13. 
omnia haec, includes the particulars mentioned in the preceding verses. 
— 16. non bona dicta, a brief, ungracious message. Martin; no happy 
greeting. Es. — 17. meum . . . amorem, look back to find my love as 
once she might. Sn. — 18. prati ultimi, on the border of the meadow. 



VI. 

Nothing is known respecting the Suffenus who is satirize^ .n this 
poem, or with certainty respecting the Varus who is addressed in 
it ; though it has been conjectured that it was Ouintilius Varus, the 
eminent critic whom Horace quotes in the Ars Poetica. 

I. probe, thoroughly. — 3. longe plurimos, an ijicr edible number. 
— 5. ut fit, as is com?nonly the case. See Lex., s. Facio. in palimp- 
sesto relata, i.e. as a rough first draft, to be revised. Munro thinks this 
phrase can scarcely be Latin, and some editors read palimpseston. Ellis 
cites Cicero's use of the phrase in codice referre and in deorum numero 
referre. — 6. chartae regiae, i.e. sheets of royal papyrus, several of 
which were united to form a long narrow liber, volume, which was rolled 
round a wooden cylinder called umbilicus, with projecting ends, — ivory, 
golden, or painted knobs, — also called umbilici, bosses. — 7. The lora 
were strings for tying up the roll or its parchment case, which was called 



146 Notes. [vii. 

membrana, and was generally purple or saffron-colored. — 8. derecta 
plunibo, ruled with a small round plate of lead, for writing the title. 
pumice . . . aequata. Pumice stone was used to remove the roughnesses 
of the surface, all blots and errors and irregularities in the writing, as well 
as to smooth the edges of the roll and of the parchment covering. See 
I, 2, note. The Ms. reading mei?ibranae is retained by Mo., who begins a 
sentence with derecta, and connects v. 8 with what follows. — 9. cum, 
whenever. A. 309, a; 322; G. 585, Rem.; H. 486, III. — 10. unus, 
used here with the force of indefinite generality, any ordinary. Cf. Cic. 
ad. Attic. IX, 10, 2; De Or at. I, 29, 132. — 1 1. rursus, Just the reverse. 
Pr. abhorret, used absolutely, alters. See Lex., s. v. II, B. 3. — 
12. scurra, a town-bred gentleman and wit, a synonym of the expressions 
used in vs. 2 and 9, and contrasted with infacetior. Es. renders it a pro- 
fessed wit. — 13. tritius (the conjecture adopted by nearly all editors for 
the Ms. reading tristius), 7?iore practised, expert in the ways of the world. 
Pr.; more practised in joking. Es.; of filter grain, or ?nore dexterous, — 
a rare and doubtful use. Sn. Munro proposes the reading tersius. — 
14. rure, the cowitry in opposition to the city. D., s.v. — 15. idem, yet, 
often used to denote contrast (as well as similarity), when something new 
is said of a person or thing already mentioned. M. 488. — 18. idem, 
cognate accus. A. 238 ; G. 331, Rem. I; H. 371,11. — 21. manticae 
was a double wallet, consisting of two bags joined together and slung over 
the shoulder so that one hung in front and the other behind. The allusion 
is to Aesop's fable, which is given in Phaedrus, Fabulae IV, 10 : 

" Peras imposuit Jupiter nobis duas : 
Propriis repletam vitiis post tergum dedit, 
Alienis ante pectus suspendit gravem, 
Hac re videre nostra mala non possumus; 
Alii simul delinquunt, censores sumus." 



VII. 

Written about the same time as Carm. III. 

" Perhaps the most perfect of Catullus' smaller pieces is that in which the 
love of home and of Nature, the sense of rest and security after toil and dan- 
ger, the glee of a boy and the strong happiness of a man unite to form the 
charm of the lines on Sirmio, of which it is as impossible to analyze the secret 
as it is to reproduce in another tongue the language in which it is expressed." 
— Sellar. 

I. Faene . . . ocelle, 

" Sweet Sirmio, thou the very eye 
Of all peninsulas and isles." — MOORE. 



viii.] Catullus. 147 

Sirmio, a promontory projecting into Lake Benacus from its southern shore, 
and united to the mainland by a low and narrow neck, which is covered 
at times with water, so that the peninsula becomes an island. 

" The promontory spreads behind the town and rises into a hill. Catullus 
could not have chosen a more delightful spot — the centre of a magnificent 
lake, surrounded with scenery of the greatest variety and majesty. The surface 
is varied ; sometimes shelving in gentle declivities, at other times breaking into 
craggy magnificence ; while the views vary at every turn, presenting rich coasts 
or barren mountains, sometimes confined to the cultivated scenes of the neigh- 
boring shore, and at other times bewildered and lost in the windings of the lake 
and the recesses of the Alps." — EUSTACE : Classical Tour, I, ch. 5. 

— 2. ocelle, gem. See Lex., s. v. and cf. Cic. ad Atlic. XVI, 6, 2; ocellos 
Italiae, villulas meas. liquentibus stagnis, clear floiving lakes. — 
3. uterque Neptunus, i.e. as god of lakes or seas; twin-re 'aimed Nep- 
tune. Cn. — 5. Thuniam, sc. the seat of the Thyni in Bithynia. Bitliu- 
nos campos means the level tract west of the Sangarius, which included 
the Lake Ascania with its city, Nicaea. Es. — 7. solutis curis, release 
from the load of care. A. 292, a; G. 667, Rem. 2; H. 549, 5, note 2; 
M. 426. — 8. peregrino lafaore, i.e. travel and toil in foreign lands. — 
9. nostrum, our own, emphatic. — 11. unum . . . tantis, alone repays 
such toils as these. Mo. See Lex., s. Unus, I, B. 3. — 12. venusta means 
beauty, as far as by its charms it captivates. D., s. Formosus. It is rarely 
used of places, hero gaude, i.e. welcome thy master with rejoicing, 
expresses the joy of the house and household to see their master again. 
Es. — 13. vosque, ye also. Ljydiae, adjective, attracted into the gender 
of undae ; by hypallage, for Lydii lacus ttndae, many instances similar to 
which are cited by Sn. A., p. 298 ; H. 636, IV. The epithet refers to the 
fact that the Etruscans, who in early times occupied the plains of the Po, 
were supposed to have migrated from Lydia. Mo. suggests the reading 
uiuidae. — 14. laugh out all hearty laughter at my home. Es. caehiii- 
norum, an unrestrained and resounding fit of laughter. D., s. Rider e. 



VIII. 

Hymn to Diana. The occasion of the writing of this poem is 
not known. It has been conjectured that it was composed for some 
public festival, such as the ides of August, or the last day of March, 
— days sacred to Diana, or when the Sibylline books were consulted. 

" It must have been written for some public occasion ; and the selection of 
Catullus to compose it would imply that he was recognized as the greatest lyrical 



148 Notes. [ix. 

poet in his lifetime, and that it was written after his reputation was established. 
It is a poem, not only of pure artistic excellence, but of imaginative conception, 
like that exemplified in the Peleus and Thetis. In this poem he shows too that 
he could identify himself in sympathy with the national feeling and religion of 
Rome. The goddess addressed is a living power, blending in her countenance 
the human and picturesque aspects of the Greek Artemis with the more spiritual 
and beneficent attributes of the Roman Diana. 

" It occupies an intermediate place between the poems founded on personal 
1 feelings and the longer and more purely artistic pieces. Like the first, it seems 
unconsciously to have conformed to the conditions of the purest art. It is like 
them a perfect whole, one of those " cunningest patterns " of excellence, such as 
Latium never saw before or after. It resembles some of the longer poems in 
being a creation of sympathetic imagination, not an immediate expression of 
personal feeling." — Sellar. 

The hymn is supposed to have been sung by a mixed chorus of 
boys and girls ; stanzas two and four by girls, three and five by 
boys, and one and six by both together. 

1. in fide, tinder the guardian care. — 2. integri, chaste. — 5. La- 
tonia, daughter of Latona. — 8. deposivit, bore ; an archaic form. 
Roby I, p. 255. — 12. sonantum, loud-resounding. — 13. dolentibus 
puerperis, matrons in travail. — 15. trivia, sc. virgo or dea. The 
same deity was Luna in heaven, Diana on earth, and Hecate in Hades ; 
and her statue with three heads and three bodies was often placed at 
points where three ways met, which were supposed to be places of resort 
for demons and phantoms ; and she was worshipped there. Hence the 
goddess was called trivia, potens. All the secret powers of nature 
were at the command of Hecate, whose chief function was that of goddess 
of the nether world of night and darkness, mistress of witchcraft and sor- 
cery, who at night sent from the lower world all kinds of demons and 
terrible phantoms. Murray : Manual of Myth. Sn. renders possessed of 
mysterious influence. — 17. cursu menstruo, by monthly progress. — 
18. annuum, yearly. — 22. sancta, hallowed, worshipped. — 23. anti- 
que, in the good old style. 



IX. 

A humorous description of the bad effect upon the poet's health 
of reading a speech of an inferior orator ; in the form of an address 
of gratitude to his Tiburtine villa, to which he had resorted for 
recovery. 

I. Sabine, a rare attraction — a predicate adjective attracted into the 
vocative. M. 299, b, Obs. 2 ; A. 241, b ; H. 369, 3. Catullus' estate was 



x.] Catullus. 149 

at a point where the boundary between the Sabine and the Tiburtine ter- 
ritories was uncertain. The latter was the more fashionable and aristocratic 
situation, as well as more fertile and healthful, famous for its orchards, figs, 
grapes, roses, and its productive soil, and abounded in villas of the nobility 
and the wealthy. — 2. autumant, used mostly of questionable assertions. 
See D., s. Censere. — 3. cordi is given by Roby in his list of predicate 
datives ; by Es. and Sn. it is considered a locative. See A. 233 ; G. 350 ; 
H. 390, I ; Roby II, xxxix. — 4. quovis pignore, i.e. lay any wager. 
— 6. suburbana. Tibur, though twenty Roman miles from Rome, can 
be seen from it. — 9. dum appeto, for coveting. Es. — 10. Sestianus. 
Probably the allusion is to P. Sestius, in whose behalf the Pro Sestio of 
Cicero was delivered. Es. thinks v. 11 the actual title of the speech. — 11. 
petitor, generally understood to mean here plaintiff in a civil suit ; but 
perhaps in its other and rare meaning of candidate for office. Cf. Horace, 
O. Ill, 1, 11. — 13. gravido is the form in most Mss. — 15. urtica, often 
used as a remedy for a cough. — 17. ulta, sc. villa. — 18. deprecor, 
very rarely followed as here by quiu. — 19. recepso. For the form see 
A. 128, *, 3 ; G. 191, 5 ; H. 240, 4; give admission to, with the idea of 
cotmtenancing implied in that. Es. — 20. frigus characterizes the style 
of Sestius' productions; an unusual meaning, though the adjective frigi- 
dus is often used in this sense. See Lex., s. v. II, B. — 21. qui vocat, 
a causal clause, A, p, 227 j G, 627, Rem.; H. 517, 2, tunc is only then. 



X. 

Farewell to Bithynia and his comrades on the staff of Mem- 
mius, b.c. 56. 

■ This poem is inspired by the new sense of life which comes to early youth 
with the first approach of Spring, and by the eager flutter of anticipation with 
which a cultivated mind forecasts the pleasure of travelling among famous and 
beautiful scenes." — Sellar. 

I. egelidos, fro m which the chill has passed away. Es. — 4. Phrygii 

campi, probably = B ithwios campos in VII, 5, the table land west of the 
river Sangarius. — 5. Nicaeae, one of the most important towns of Bithy- 
nia, on the eastern shore of Lake Ascania. Ager uber : 

" There (in the vicinity of Nicaea) were the common and dwarf daphnes, the 
blossom of the latter scenting the air; many varieties also of the laurestinus, 
and among them the strawberry-tree, whose luxuriant foliage and beautifully 
clean and oriental stem distinguished it above its rivals. Amidst this perfect 



150 Notes. [xii. 

garden — for beneath our feet were violet, hyacinth, and anemone in great 
variety — the most perfect view opened before us, not grand but of perfectly 
lovely beauty. In the extreme distance was the snowy range of Olympus, and 
before it a series of fine mountains, with their feet bathed in the most placid of 
lakes, the ancient Ascania, which is about ten miles long and four in breadth. 
At the southern end of the lake, beautifully situated, stood the ruined towers of 
the many times famous Nicaea. Beneath us, sloping from our feet to the edge 
of the lake, was a highly cultivated and rich valley." — Sir C. FELLOWS : Asia 
Minor. 

aestuosae, sultry. — 6. claras Asiae urbes. The Roman province of 
Asia included Mysia, Lydia, Caria, and Phrygia, and contained in the time 
of Catullus a large number of rich, splendid, and interesting towns, such 
as Ephesus, Smyrna, Lampsacus, Cyzicus, &c. — 7. praetrepidans, i.e. 
eager in advance, at the thought of the approaching pleasure. Es. — 

8. laeti studio, sc. eundi, joyful from eager desire for the journey. — 

9. comitum, sc. associates forming the coJiors or staff of Memmius. 
coetus, assemblages, probably social gatherings. — 11. diversae, i.e. 
routes far apart from each other ; variae, i.e. passing through various 
countries. 



XL 

The occasion of this poem is unknown, but it seems to be a note 
of thanks for some professional service which Cicero had rendered. 
Sellar thinks it was probably written on Catullus' hearing of Cicero's 
speech in defence of M. Caelius Rufus, who was accused by Clodia 
of an attempt to poison her, B.C. 56. 

I. Disertissime strictly denotes a natural talent for speaking with 
clearness and precision, inferior to the acquired art of eloquence denoted 
by eloquens. Cf. Cic. Orator V, 18 ; De Oratore I, 21, 94. Yet it was 
also used by Cicero as = eloquentissimus. Cf. Phil. II, 43, Hi; pro Sest. 
LVII, 122. — 2. Marce Tulli, the name by which Cicero seems to have 
been most familiarly known, and by which he would be addressed officially. 
Es. — 7. patronus, advocate. 






XII. 



Addressed to C. Licinius Macer Calvus, the orator and poet, 
with whom Catullus had had a match-game of writing verses, prob- 
ably of an epigrammatic sort and in different kinds of metre. Pass- 



xiii.] Catullus. 151 

ing a restless night through the excitement this contest had occa- 
sioned, he wrote this poem for the relief of his feelings and as a sort 
of return invitation. 

2. lusimus, practised as a pastime, sc. extemporaneous verse-writing. 
— 3. ut convenerat delicatos, as we had agreed to be frivolous, to play 
the idler. Es.; to frolic. Sn. — 5. numero, metre. — 6. reddens mu- 

tua, excha7tging replies. 

11 The wit, the repartee that flew 
From you to me, from me to you." — MARTIN. 

11. — indomitus furore, restless through excitement. — 12. versarer, 

I tossed uneasily. — 13. An instance of hysteron proteron. — 14. labore, 
discomfort occasioned by the mental excitement. — 15. semimortua, 
exhausted, iacebant, lay cornposed. — 18. For the construction of sis 
see A. 269, a ; G. 548,2 ; H. 499, 2. — 21. vehemens, impetuous, lae- 
dere. Sometimes caveo, to avoid, takes the infinitive. M. 375, a 9 Obs. 1. 



XIII. 

The marriage of Peleus and Thetis. The longest and most 
elaborate of the productions of Catullus ; an heroic idyl, or Epyllion. 

Respecting the ti?ne when this poem was written, various opinions 
have been held. TeufFel believes it to have been one of Catullus' 
earliest productions. Ellis thinks that there is nothing to determine 
the date, yet that probably the subject was suggested to Catullus, 
when he was at Sigaeum, the burial place of Achilles. Others 
assign it to the last years of the poet's life. Sellar remarks : 

"The length as well as the diction, rhythm, and structure of this poem show 
that it was a work of much greater labor and thought than any of those which 
sprang spontaneously out of the passion or sentiment of the moment. Probably 
in the composition of this, which he must have regarded as the most serious 
and ambitious effort of his muse, Catullus must have kept it by him for years, 
elaborating the unfamiliar poetic diction in which it is expressed, and enlarging 
its original plan by the insertion of the long Ariadne episode. 

" It is the only poem of Catullus which produces the impression of the slow 
and reflective processes of art, as distinct from the rapidly-shaping power of 
immediate inspiration. From this circumstance alone we should regard it as a 
work on which his maturest faculty was employed. It is executed with such 
power and originality as declare it to be a product of the most vigorous stage 
of development of the author's genius. The concluding lines are written in a 



I5 2 Notes. [xiir. 

more serious spirit, and with a graver judgment on human life than anything 
else he has left. 

" But it has been shown (Munro's Lucretius, p. 468) that throughout the 
poem, and more especially in the episode of Ariadne, there are clear indications 
in similarities of expression which cannot be mere casual coincidences between 
the two, that Catullus had read and imitated the poem of Lucretius, which 
appeared about the end of 55 or the beginning of 54 B.C. We may therefore 
conclude that in 54 B.C. — the last year of his life — Catullus was still engaged 
in the original composition of his longest poem, or in giving to it the finishing 
touches." 

Respecting the purpose of the poem also, widely differing opinions 
have been advanced. « That of Hodgson is : 

" The theme of the so-called Marriage of Peleus and Thetis is the glory of 
marriage idealized by means of an instance in which all the circumstances of 
happiness are united, and which is invested with all the imagined glories of the 
heroic age. This theme is exhibited by the two contrasted stories which thus 
properly assume almost equal importance. Thus it is the very marriage-bed 
of Peleus and Thetis which is covered with the tapestry exhibiting the story of 
Ariadne. Thetis is given in marriage by Jupiter himself: Ariadne deserts her 
father's home for Theseus. The first union receives its crown in the birth of 
an heroic son, Achilles ; the inconstancy of mind which leads Theseus to desert 
Ariadne, in the second, is the cause of his own father's death. Again, the cir- 
cumstance that the union of Peleus and Thetis was a union between a mortal 
and an immortal finds its counterpart in the advent of Bacchus. But though 
old wounds may be healed, there is no future in the picture ; while for Peleus 
and Thetis the song of the Parcae weaves into the fruition of the present the 
anticipated fame of their son." 

The substance of Sellar's discussion of this point is as follows : 

"It is difficult to find any single motive which combines into unity the 
original nucleus of the epithalamium of Peleus and Thetis with the long 
episode of the desertion of Ariadne which interrupts the continuity of this 
poem. The form of art to which it belongs was due to the invention of the 
Alexandrians. But there is no reason to suppose that Catullus is reproducing, 
still less translating, any particular work of these poets. A comparison of the 
imagery of this poem with that of the earlier Epithalamia, and a consideration 
of the passionate beauty with which the subject of love and marriage is treated, 
favor the conclusion that the style and substance of the poem are the workman- 
ship of Catullus. It may be doubted whether any Alexandrine poet, except 
perhaps Apollonius, whom Catullus in this poem often imitates, but does not 
translate, had sufficient imagination to produce the original which he is sup- 
posed to have copied. Indeed, Catullus exercises in this poem a power of 
creative pictorial imagination far transcending that displayed in any of the 
extant poetry of Alexandria. But the plan of the poem may have been sug- 
gested by some Alexandrine model. The Alexandrians studied pictorial repre- 
sentation of outward scenes and of passionate situations, and works of tapestry 
on which such representations were wrought were common among their deliciae 
vitae. 

"Thus Catullus may have intended to paint two pictures of the love of an 
immortal for a mortal, — the love of Thetis for Peleus, and of Bacchus for 
Ariadne, — and to heighten the effect of each by the contrast presented in the 
pendent picture. The original good fortune and the unbroken happiness of 
Peleus are more vividly realized by the contrast presented to the imagination in 
the betrayal and passionate agitation of Ariadne. The thought of the crowds 
of mortals and immortals who come together to celebrate the marriage of the 



xiii.] Catullus. 153 

Thessalian prince brings into greater relief the utter loneliness of Ariadne, when 
first discovered by Bacchus and his crew. 

" Or the original motive of both pictures might be sought in the concluding 
lines, written in a graver tone than anything else in Catullus ; and it might be 
supposed that he intended, by the two pictures of divine favor granted to mor- 
tals, to enforce the lesson that it is owing to the sins of the latter time that the 
gods have withdrawn their gracious presence from the earth. These lines 
reveal a genuine and unexpected vein of reverence in the nature of Catullus. 
The sins which he specifies as alienating the gods from men are those most 
rife in his own time, with which he has dealt in a more realistic fashion in his 
satiric epigrams. 

" But, on the other hand, Catullus is the least didactic of poets. He is also 
the least abstract and reflective. We cannot suppose (in the case of such a 
writer) all the concrete passionate life of the poem taking shape in his imagina- 
tion in order to embody any idea however noble. The idea was the after- 
thought, not the creative germ. Nor can we think that the conception of the 
whole poem existed in his mind before, or independently of, the separate con- 
ception of its parts. 

" Neither can the poem be called a successful specimen of narrative. There 
is scarcely any story to tell in connection with the marriage of Peleus. It is a 
succession of pictures, not a tale of passion or adventure. The imaginative 
excellence of the poem is idyllic rather than epic or dramatic. It abounds in 
pictures or suggestions of pictures taken from the world of divine and human 
life and of outward nature. Such are those of the Nereids gazing on the Argo, 
of Ariadne watching with pale and anxious face the perilous encounter of 
Theseus with the Minotaur, and again, looking on the distant fleet, of the advent 
of Bacchus, a passage which has inspired one of the masterpieces of modern 
art, of Prometheus, of the aged Parcae spinning the thread of human destiny, as 
with clear-ringing voice they poured forth their truthful prophecy. 

" The diction and rhythm of the poem are characterized by excellences of 
quite a different sort from those of Catullus' other pieces. In no previous work 
of Latin genius was so much use made of an artificial poetic diction, while it is 
very effective in its own way. It reveals new and unexpected wealth in the ore 
of the Latin language. The rhythm is much more carefully and correctly fin- 
ished than the rhythm of Lucretius. Each separate line has a smoother cadence. 
And the poem, as a whole, has a noble, calm, and stately movement, in unison 
with the noble and stately pictures of an ideal fore-time which it brings before 
the imagination." 

Outline of the Poem. 

Introduction : 1-15. The building of the Argo for its famous expedition ; 
its first appearance on the sea, with Pelops on board ; the thronging of the sea- 
nymphs around it in wonder. 

Part I : i, 16-30. The love of Peleus for Thetis, and their betrothal. 

2, 31-51. The gathering of the Thessalians at the palace of Peleus in Thes- 
salia. on the wedding-day, with their gifts. The magnificence of the royal 
abode, and its adornments, particularly a beautifully embroidered piece of 
tapestry or coverlet upon the bridal couch. 

Part II : 1, 52-131. The picture upon a part of this tapestry of Ariadne on 
the shore of Naxos, on discovering her desertion by Theseus. Recital of pre- 
vious incidents in their history. 

2, 132-201. Ariadne's utterance of her despair and her reproaches against 
Theseus; her invocation of the vengeance of the gods upon him. 

3, 202-250. The parting of Aegeus and Theseus on the departure of the 
latter from Athens; and the fulfilment of the curse of Ariadne in the death of 
the former, just at the return of his son. 

4, 251-266. The picture on another part of the tapestry, of Bacchus and his 
votaries engaged in the celebration of the mysteries. 



154 Notes. [xiii. 

Part III : I, 267-302. The departure of the'Thessalians from the palace, 
and the arrival of the demi-gods and gods, with their gifts to the feast. 

2 » 3°3 _ 3 8 3- T ne Parcae spinning the threads of fate ; and their song of 
the destinies of Peleus and Thetis, and of the prowess, achievements, and doom 
of Achilles their son. 

Conclusion : 384-408. The contrast between the presence of the gods upon 
the earth in the golden age of purity and virtue, and their withdrawal in the 
degenerate age of the poet, in consequence of the wickedness of mankind. 

" With the exception of one or two short passages, where the movement of 
the narrative drags, or the imagery is over-elaborated, the poem is masterly in 
design and treatment. The opening is brilliant and picturesque ; the episode 
of Ariadne grandly passionate; the introduction of the celestial guests towards 
the close sustains the interest, which after the strain of high passion with which 
that episode is wrought, would have been apt to flag ; the description of the 
Parcae and their chant, with the solemn monotony of its refrain, is almost 
Homeric in force and picturesqueness ; and the concluding lament for the with- 
drawal of the gods from earth is, in truth, what Gifford has termed it, a 'grand 
burst of poetry.' Surely the criticism is of a shallow kind which complains that 
the episode of Ariadne occupies a disproportionate space. In the number of 
lines it may be long relatively to the rest of the poem, but this is compensated 
by the fire and rapidity of the movement." — Martin. 

1. Peliaco. Pelion was the mountain in Thessaly overhanging Iolcos, 
which furnished the timber of the Argo. — 5. avertere, to carry off by 
force or fraud. — 7. palmis, oar-blades. — 8. Diva, sc. Pallas, qui- 
bus, refers to lecti iuvenes, v. 4. — 10. inflexae carinae, to the well- 
curved keel. — 11. Ilia, the ship Argo. cursu prima inibuit, was the 
first to navigate. See Lex., s. Imbuo, II, B. 2. Some interpreters take 
Amphitriten in its personal meaning : initiated unschooled Amphitrite in 
voyaging. Sn. and Pr.; it was then that Amphitrite gave to the untaught 
prow the first lesson in voyaging. Es. The inconsistency of this line with 
the descriptions of Theseus as a voyager (v. 53 and 212) is one of the 
few anachronisms occurring in Catullus, compared with similar errors in 
other Roman poets. — 12. proscidit, used in agriculture of the first 
plowing. See Lex., s. v. I, B. and cf. Virg. Georg. I, 97 ; hence here, 
of the first ship that plowed the sea. — 14. feri, the Ms. reading, wild 
with amazement. Pr.; or, because they belong to the children of the wild 
sea. Es. vultus with which it agrees is best taken as an appositive with 
Nereides. 

" Out of the creaming surges in amaze 
Wild faces rose on that strange sight to gaze — 
The Nereids of the deep/' — Martin. 

Weber refers vultus to the Tritons and other sea deities, but in that case 
the asyndeton in the next line is objectionable. Mo., on the ground that 
feri cannot stand, and that vultus must be an accusative, follows Haupt 
in substituting freti and makes vultus the object of emersere, on the 

analogy of emergere se, though he admits that this construction is not so 



xiji.] Catullus. 155 

certainly admissible. " There is no more beautiful imaginative picture than 
this, with which the poem opens, of the first voyage of the first ship pass- 
ing o'er yet untravelled seas in quest of the golden fleece." 

16. Ilia, atque haud alia, on that only <X7id no other. So Bergk, 
Rossbach, and Es. Other corrections of the Mss. reading Ilia atque alia 
are Illaque handque alia, Doering, Sillig, Orelli ; Iliac haudque alia, 
Schwabe ; Iliac (quaque alia?) Mo. — 18. nutricum, A. 260, e ; G. 
418 ; H. 434, note 4. — 21. pater, i.e. Jupiter. Cf. v. 26 and 27. sen- 
sit, felt, under the persuasion of prophecy. Sn. — 22. nimis, beyond 
measure. — 23. mater, sc. the Argo probably, though explained by many 
of Thetis. Es. refers to the representations of the Argo as an animate 
being, possessed of voice and reason and in part divine. The Veronese 
scholiast on Aen. V. 80, quoting the passage, reads : 

" heroes, salvete deum gens, o bona matrum 
progenies, salvete iterum " — 

This is considered genuine by Orelli, Haupt, and others, who conclude that 
the Mss. of Catullus have lost a line here ; and various conjectures have 
been resorted to for the completion of it, such as vos compellabo, and ad- 
spirate canenti. Mo. proposes que iter unique, bonarum, and translates 
right iv or thy progeny of right worthy mothers, adding that "the joining of 
the mothers with the fathers is not without purpose." Ellis' objections are 
that the weight of the Veronese scholia, imperfect and full of lacunae as 
they are, is not to be set against our Mss., and that it is difficult to imagine 
any mode of filling up the lacuna, which would not either be weak or load 
the sentence unnecessarily ; and quotes Conington's observation that 
salvete iterum may be part of the scholion. — 26. columen, pillar. — 
27. concessit amores, " resigned his cherished love." amores, for the 
beloved object. Cf. X, I ; XLV, I. — 28. tenuit, did Thetis take for her 
husband? Neptunine, preferred by Es., Pr., Sn., and others as nearest to 
the Ms. reading. For the form cf. Oceanine, Adrestine, Acrisione, and 
see H. 322, note. Other editors object to Neptunine as the only instance 
of a pure Latin word formed into a Greek patronymic and read Kereine, 
claiming also that this is nearer the Mss. Thetis was the daughter of 
Nereus and Doris. Xereus was the son of Neptune, and Doris was the 
daughter of Oceanus and Tethys. — 30. amplectitnr, sc. according to 
the Homeric conception of the ocean as a great river encircling the world. 
31. Quae refers to the taedae felices of v. 25. simul, for simul ac, as 
frequently, optato . . . tempore, days deter mined by the approach of 
the welcome time. So Es. Other readings are optato finito and optatae 
finito. — 32. domum, sc. Pelei. — 35. Scyros. Es. accounts for the 



156 Notes. [xiii. 

mention of this distant island here, on the ground that Peleus was king of 
Phthia, at the extremity of which lay the Dolopes, who with the Pelasgians 
were said to have been among the original inhabitants of Scyros ; that the 
name Pelasgian was sometimes equivalent to Thessalian ; and that Scyros 
was intimately associated in the mind of Catullus with the family of Peleus, 
as the hiding place of the young Achilles, or from the tradition that he 
attacked and took Scyros and afterwards left his child Pyrrhus there, or the 
story that Peleus sent him there to avenge the death of Theseus. Many 
editors adopt the emendation Cieros, the name of an obscure Thessalian 
town. Phthiotica. Phthiotis included the southern part of Thessaly, and 
extended as far north only as Pharsalus and the Thessalian plains ; but the 
adjective here is poetic for Thessalian. Cf. v. 285. — 3J. Pharsaliam, 
according to Es., is the name both of a town and a district ; here of the 
town, as is shown by its use without a preposition, its combination with 
Crannon and Larisa, and the use of the word coeunt, which could scarcely 
apply to any place larger than a town. To avoid a change of quantity in 
the same line many editors read Pharsalum, but such a variation (as that 
in the antepenult here) is common in proper names, and sometimes occurs 
in other words. Cf. Lucretius, IV, 1259 : liqiiidis liqiiida ; Hor. Carm. 
I, 32, II : nigris nigro. — 39. humilis, low-growing, of the vines. Es.; 
low-lying, i.e. on lower grounds — the rich plain of Thessaly. Pr. curvis, 
with curved prongs. — 40. prono, deep-driven. Cf. Virg. Geor. II, 203 : 
presso vomere ; I, 45, depresso aratro. — 43. Ipsius, sc. Pelei. qua- 
cumque . . . recessit, far as the magnificent palace extended inzvards ; 
i.e. throughout the whole magnificent interior. 

" But Peleus* halls through all their length unfold 
The gorgeous sheen of silver and of gold." — MARTIN. 

— 45. Es. takes soliis and mensae as datives and cites Virg. Aen. VI, 603 : 
the thrones are of white ivory, the tables bear glittering cups. Others regard 
mensae as a genitive or locative. — 46. gaudet, is gay. — 47. Pulvi- 
nar conveys a notion of greatness and grandeur. Rh. s. v. divae, 
sc. Thetis. — 48. sedibus mediis = the atrium in a Roman house. 
Indo dente politum, made of polished Indian tusk ; formed of the In- 
dian tusk and finely wrought. Mo. — 49. conchyli, limits fiico, the sea- 
shelVs tint, purpura, purple drapery. — 50. priscis hominum figuris, 
by hypallage for priscorum hominum figuris. — 51. virtutes, i.e. res 
illustres et celebres ex aetate heroica repetitae. Dg. 

52. Diae, the old name of the island of Naxos. — 57. cernat. A. 
326; G. 636; H. 517, 3, 1). — 58. pellit, i.e. is so represented in the 
embroidery. — 60. alga, adds to the effectiveness of the picture. Ariadne 



xiil] Catullus. 157 

has gone to the extreme edge of the shore to gain a last glimpse of 
the receding ship. Es. — 61. saxea . . . bacchantis, i.e. as speechless and 
tearless as, etc.; while her whole body was convulsed with passion, eheu, 
to be taken with the second prospicit, alas still gazes, implying the futility 
of the effort. Es. euhoe is preferred by other editors, the Ms. reading 
being heuhe hene. — 63. suotilem mitram, fine woven head-dress, 
formed of a scarf of mixed colors, fastened round the head and under the 
chin. Rh. — 65. strophio, sash or scarf; rolled into a long, round, and 
even form (tereti), and fastened round the bust, close under the breast. Rh. 
lactentis, swelling. — 69. vicem. See Lex., s. v. II; the object of 
curans. — 73. quo ex tempore. Es. thinks that the repetition is 
purposely introduced to define the moment at which Ariadne's passion 
began. Cf. vs. 86 and 171. — 74. curvis, winding, describes the peculiar 
conformation of Piraeus, which forms three distinct inlets, each of them 
used as a harbor. But Piraei itself is a poetic anachronism for Phalerum ; 
since Piraeus as a port dates only from the time of Themistocles. Pr. — 
75. iniusti. The most ancient legends describe Minos as a just and wise 
lawgiver, whereas the later accounts represent him as an unjust and cruel 
tyrant. Diet. Biog. templa, sanctuary, or halls of state. Priam's palace 
is so called by Ennius. Sn. Some editors read tecta. 

78. decus innuptarum, the most beautiful of the maidens. — 80. 
quis. A. 104, d; G. 103, Rem.; H. 187, foot-note 5. angusta, of 
S7iiall size. Es. ; straitened, distressed. Pr. — S^. funera nee funera, 
a Graecism. Cf. innuptis 7iuptiis quoted in Cic. De Oral. Ill, 58 ; inse- 
pultam sepulturam, Cic. Phil. I, 2 ; Cecropid's living corpses. Pr. ; a freight 
of living dead, i.e. living victims transported in the hearse-like, black-sailed 
ship of death, like bodies really dead. Es. nee, either = non, or else used 
correctively, and yet not. — 85. magnanimum, not in a good sense, 
haughty. Cf. v. 75. — Z%. alebat, was mirturing, i.e. at the time of Theseus' 
arrival. Es. — 89. quales, i.e. as beautiful as, etc. Cf. Cranstoun : 

" Fair as along Eurotas* banks the budding myrtles spring." 
— 90. distinctos colores, i.e. flowers of variotis hues. ■ — 94. inmiti 
corde, with cruel heart, furores, sc. in the lover's breast. — 98. Auc- 
tions, sc. of passion, in . . . suspirantem, sighing after, longing for. 
Cf. Ovid. Fasti, I, 417; VI, 490 ; Hor. O. I, 17, 19. — 99. timores, sc. 
at the thought of Theseus combating the Minotaur. Es. — 100. magis 

. . . auri : 

" More wan of hue 
Than the dull sheen of yellow gold she grew." — MARTIN. 

Cf. LXXXI, 4 : i?iaurata pallidior statua ; Ovid. Met. XI, 1 10 : saxum 
quoque palluit auro. Pr. remarks that the gold of the ancients being 



158 Notes. [xiii. 

much alloyed with silver was no doubt of a much paler hue than ours. 

— 102. oppeteret praemia, a case of zeugma. A. p. 298; G. 690; 
H. 636, II, 1. — 103. Non ingrata, i.e. the gods heard her prayer for 
Theseus' success, frustra is explanatory of ingrata: Not without 
return however, so that she promised them in vain. So Es. and Sn. 
Others take frustra with tarn en, i.e. the granting of her prayer (in the 
success of Theseus) ultimately led to her ruin. — 104. succendit. So 
Lachmann, Es., and others, after the best Mss. : kindled on the lips as on 
an altar. — 108. procul qualifies cadit. — 109. et . . . obvia. So Es. 
and Pr. after Scaliger. Other emendations of the Ms. reading are comeis 
obit obuia ; comis obit o??mia ; et cominus 07?inia. — no. saevum, here 
used substantively. Dg. — in. vanis, i.e. that experience no effect from 
his blows; mocking, i?ieffectual. Es. — 114. labyrintheis flexibus. By 
the term labyrinth the ancients understood a large mass of buildings con- 
nected with innumerable subterranean caverns, streets, and passages, out of 
which it was next to impossible for a person who had once penetrated into 
them to return without a guide. Rh. Cf. Virg. Aen. V, 588-591, and VI, 
27. For an account of the famous Egyptian labyrinth see Diet. Antiq. 
The existence of the supposed Cretan labyrinth is disbelieved by most 
modern writers, and the story of it is supposed to have arisen from the 
existence of some cavern near Gnosus, such as are now found in Crete. — 
115. tecti inobservabilis error, the untraceable mazes of the building. 
Cf. the epithets Virgil uses : indeprensus et irremeabilis error. Aen. V, 
591; inextricabilis error. VI, 27. frustraretur, should mislead. 

116. primo carmine, i.e. the description of Ariadne on the shore of 
Dia. Es. — 119. who wept aloud in desperate love for her daughter. Es. 
Instead of lamentata est, adopted by Conington and Es., other conjec- 
tural readings are laetabatur, tised to take joy in. Lachmann and Sn.; 
hntabatur, lingered; letabatur,was dying with grief W. and S. — 122. 
To supply the gap in the Mss. after earn, dulci and tristi have been con- 
jectured ; and Lachmann inserts venerit, at the beginning of the line. — 
124. ardenti denotes intense distress of mind. — 126. turn, turn, at one 
ti?ne, at another time. M. 435, a, Obs. 3. — 128. tremuli, restless, the 
sea described with the epithet best corresponding to Ariadne's own state. 

— 131. frigidulos, faint chill, from the effect of grief. Es. udo ore, 
tear -wet lips. Sn. 

134. neglecto . . . divum, sc. to whom he had appealed in his 
oaths. — 135. devota, sc. poenae, doo?ned. — 140. voce, i.e. spoken 
aloud. — 142. -irrita, into nothingness ; a case of prolepsis. H. 440, 2. — 
143. Turn iam = From that time onwards, i.e. from the time when Theseus 
made his false promise to Ariadne, Es. — 144, speret, expect, viri 






xiii.] Catullus, 159 

sermones, sc. when asseverating his love. — 145. quls = na?n viris. — 

148. inetuere. The aoristic use of the perfect. A. 279, c ; G. 228, 

Rem. 2 ; H. 47 1, 5 ; M. 335, b, Obs. 1. — 149. Certe . . . te eripui, At 

any rate I rescued you, and therefore have a claim on your gratitude. — 

150. germanum, sc. the Minotaur. — 151. fallaci, my betrayer. Sn. 

in tempore. A. 256, a ; G. 393 ; H. 429, 1, foot-note. — 153. neque 

iniacta terra, i.e. not even the rites of burial in their most simple 

shape ; which consisted in thrice casting a handful of earth on the remains, 

and without which the spirit could not gain admission to its appointed 

abode. Ry. — 155. conceptum. For this use of the participle see A. 292, 

Rem.; G. 667, Rem. 1 ; H. 549, 5. — 157. qui reddis. For the mood 

see A. 326, a ; G. 567 ; H. 517, 2. pro dulci vita, sc. given to you in 

rescuing you from the Minotaur. — 159. prisci, stern, severe. Cf. Lex., 

s. v. II, B. parentis, sc. Aegeus. — 160. vestras, i.e. of you and your 

family. — 162: 

" With the water's limpid stream 
I would have laved thy snow-white feet." — CRAXSTOUN. 

— 171. tempore primo, on that first day I saw thee. Dg. — 173. dira 
stipendia, i.e. the youths and maidens destined for the Minotaur. — 
175. malus, used substantively. A. 188, Rem. ; G. 195, Rem. ; H. 441, 2; 
M. 301, a and c. — 177. spe. For the construction see A. 248; G. 403, 
Rem. 3 ; H.425, 1, 1), note ; M. 264, Obs. — 178. Idomeneos, Cretan; 
anachronistic. Idomeneus was a nephew of Ariadne. See v. 11, note. 
The Greek genitive ending eos here becomes one syllable. A. 347, c ; G. 
721 ; H. 608, III. a is the interjection. — 179. After truculentum the 
Mss. have ubi, which is retained by some editors, dividit, sc. montes. — 
182. fido, ironical, memet, myself by myself emphatic. — 183. lentos, 
flexible. The more the oars bent with the stroke, the swifter the flight. 
Pr. — 189. fesso, exhausted by grief. — 190. prodita, i.e. for ?ny be- 
trayal. — 196. miserae. So Lachmann, Haupt, Es., and others. For 
the construction see G. 340, Rem. 2 ; H. 381, note 3, 3) ; M. 236, Obs. 2. 
After some Mss., Orelli and Schwabe have miser a as better suited to the 
metre, avoiding an awkward elision. — 198. verae, sincere or just. — 
201. funestet, may he cause death to. — 205. horrida, shuddering. — 
206. mundus, the heave?is, the firmament. 

207. Ipse, On his part, marks the transition from Jupiter and Ariadne 
to the subject of the prayer and the punishment. Pr. — 210. dulcia 
signa, i.e. the white sails. Cf. v. 235. — 212. divae, sc. Pallas. — 215. 
Notice the position of unice. Theseus was dearer than long life as the 
only son of his father. Es. — 216. in dubios casus, to doubtful ven- 
tures. — 217. reddite, restored. When Theseus reached maturity, by 



i6o Notes. [xm. 

the direction of his mother Aethra, daughter of the king of Troezen, he 
lifted the rock beneath which were the sword and sandals, the tokens left 
by his father Aegeus, and on reaching Athens was by means of them recog- 
nized and acknowledged as his son. — 218. fortuna, ill fortune. See 
Diet. Biog., Aegeus. — 225. vago, roving. Ellis, however, interprets it 
swaying. — 227. carbasus . . . Hibera, canvas shaded with Iberians 
dusky hues. Pr. dicet, may proclaim. So Es. and Sn. after the Mss. 
Lachmann and Pr. have decet ; Dg. and Weber, obscura dicat. — 228. in- 
cola Itoni, sc. Pallas, who had a temple at Itonus in Phthiotis. — 229. nos- 
trum genus, i.e. of kings to which we belong. Erecthi. So the Mss. 

— 233. invisent, shall come in sight of. — 236. gaudia, here in a causative 
sense, the glad sign. See Lex., j. v. II. — 237. aetas prospera, the aus- 
picious day. Es. is inclined to refer the noun to the life of Theseus. — 
240. nivei, snow-capped. — 241. arce, sc. the Acropolis. — 244. scopu- 
lorum e vertice, sc. to the ground beneath (of course, not into the sea), 
according to the tradition near the southwest angle of the Acropolis, a spot 
commanding an extensive view of the sea. Wordsworth : Athens and Attica. 

— 246. funesta paterna morte, made a house of mourning by his 
fathers death. Sn. — 248. mente inmemori, placed between the two 
clauses as equally referring to either, with the first in the sense of faithless- 
ness to Ariadne, in the second of forgetfulness towards Aegeus. Es. The 
particle re in recepit is emphatic, met with in return. — 249. Quae 
tamen aspectans, etc., both indicates the fixed despair of Ariadne, which 
did not heed the lapse of time and the disappearance of Theseus' ship, 
and suggests the immobility of the figures on the tapestry. Es. — 250. sau- 
cia, stricken with love. See Lex., s. v. II. 

25 1 . parte, i.e. of the embroidered work on the tapestry. Sellar remarks 
upon this passage, as having inspired one of the masterpieces of modern 
art — Titian's "Bacchus and Ariadne." florens, blooming, expressive of 
his youth and his ruddy complexion, " ever fair and ever young." — 252. 
Nysigenis. Nysa in India was, according to one tradition, the birthplace 
of Bacchus. — 253. tuo amore, love of thee. M. 297, b, Obs. I; A. 197, 
a; G. 363, Rem. ; H. 396, III, note 2. Cf. Prop. I, 81; Hor. Epod. v. 81. 

— 255. evohe, favored by the Mss. rather than euhoe ; though the latter 
is adopted by most editors, bacchantes, raving to the cry of Euhoe. Es. 
Sn. reads Quicum (v. 254) ...Bacchantes, the Bacchantes. Another 
reading is Quae turn, etc. — 256. Harum, sc. the Bacchae, who were 
conspicuous in celebrating the festival of Bacchus. — 259. obscura, mys- 
tic, celebrabant, were carrying in procession ; very nearly in its literal 
sense of doing something in multitudes. Cf. v. 287 and 302. orgia, sym- 
bols. Its meaning is determined by the passage of Seneca, Here. Oet., 592, 






xiil] Catullus, 161 

which Es. quotes : Nos Palladias ire per aras Et uirgineos celebrare choros ; 
Nos Cad??ieis orgiaferre Tecum solitae condita cistis. cistis, cylindrical 
baskets or boxes, at first of wicker-work, afterwards of bronze or other 
costly material, and of elegant workmanship, in which, in solemn proces- 
sion at festivals, the sacred utensils and other articles used in the rites of 
Ceres and Bacchus were carried, concealed from the eyes of the uninitiated. 
Rh. — 260. audire, to understajzd. — 261. Notice the alliteration in this 
and the following line, proceris, upraised. Lex. It gives the idea of 
tapering. Es. — 262. tereti, rounded, aere = cymbala, a musical instru- 
ment consisting of two hollow half-globes. — 264. barbara, Phrygian. 
Cf. LXIII, 22. — 266. suo, of its own, referring to pulvinar. See A. 
197, b; G. 295, Rem.; H. 449, 2. 

268. decedere. See Lex., s. v. I, B. 2. — 269-275. This simile is to 
some extent modelled on II. IV, 422, et seqq., but the details make it quite 
original. Es. Martin's version is : 

"As when at early dawn the western breeze 
Into a ripple breaks the slumbering seas, 
Which gently stirr'd move slowly on at first, 
And into gurglings low of laughter burst ; 
Anon, as fresher blows the rising blast, 
The waves crowd onwards, faster and more fast, 
Floating away till they are lost to sight 
Beneath the glow of the empurpled light, 
So from the royal halls, and far from view, 
Each to his home with wandering steps withdrew." 

— 270. proclivas, literally sloping forwards ; with incitat, stirs into 
slanting ridges. It expresses the curved form of waves first beginning to 
rise on a hitherto smooth and windless sea. Es. An instance of prolepsis. 
See A., p. .298; H. 636, IV, 3. — 271. sub limina, upwards to the 
threshold. Es. From the Ms. reading subli7nia some editors read sub 
lumina. — 272. tarde qualifies procedunt. — 275. procul nantes, 
far out at sea as they float. Es. luce, i.e. the rays of the sun. — 276. 
vestibuli regia tecta, the shelter of the royal porch. Es. Cf. VII, 13 and 
note. — 277. at se, to his own ho?ne. — 278. princeps, first of all. — 
279. Chiron lived on Mt. Pelion. His friendship with Peleus was par- 
ticularly celebrated. Chiron saved him from the hands of the other cen- 
taurs and restored to him the sword which Acastus had concealed ; he 
also informed Peleus in what manner he might gain possession of Thetis, 
who was doomed to marry a mortal; and was afterwards the instructor of 
Achilles. — 283. indistinctis, tinsorted, i.e. in which the various kinds 
and colors of flowers were intermixed, ipse, in person, indicative of his spe- 
cial interest in the occasion. — 285. Confestim, sc. after Chiron. Penios, 
the best-attested reading of the Mss. Es. This river-god was a son of 



1 62 Notes. [xiii. 

Tethys, and so came as a relative of Thetis. — 286. silvae. " Catullus 
has shown his usual felicity in seizing on one salient feature of Tempe, its 
overhanging woods. The vegetation is magnificent, and wherever the 
slopes are sufficiently gradual, runs far up the mountain sides : it is composed 
of oak, wild olive, and dwarf ilex, together with a thick undergrowth of 
agnus castus, palluria, and oleander, while the banks of the stream are 
everywhere shaded by plane-trees of luxuriant growth." Tozer : Researches 
in Turkey. — 287. Magnessum, of the Magnesian women. So Es., for 
the Ms. reading Minosim, retained by Sn. Haupt conjectures Naiasin, as 
involving the least change from the Mss., which Es. considers tame and 
purposeless ; and Dg., Mne?nonidum. celebranda, to be thronged. 
Cf. v. 259 and note. — 288. vacuos, empty-handed. radicitus, torn 
from the roots. Es. ; with roots unbroken. Sn. See A. 148, note rj ; H. 
304, IV, foot-note 7; Roby, I, p. 181. — 290. nutanti, expresses the 
swaying of its luxuriant mass of foliage. Es. sorore, i.e. the poplar, — 

294. Prometheus. The Oceanides, of whom Thetis may be reckoned 
one, are generally represented in the legend as devoted to Prometheus. — 

295. extenuata vestigia, faint traces. — 298. natisque, a case of 
synapheia. A. 359, c, Rem. ; G. 714 ; H. 608, I, note 5. — 299. caelo. 
For the case, see A. 258, a; G. 411, 4; H. 412, 2. te solum, etc. The 
absence of Apollo and Diana has been variously explained. Es. thinks it 
may have been due to the strong feeling of Apollo for Troy and the fact 
that he was to slay Achilles. Kraft thinks Catullus was here following an 
Alexandrian account. — 300. unigenam, of the same parent, i.e. here, 
your sister. Cf. LVI, 53. Idri, generally supposed to be a mountain in 
Caria, sacred to Diana. Es. finds a difficulty in the form of the word, the 
only forms occurring elsewhere being Idrieus and fdrias, and suggests 
that possibly Catullus wrote Iri 9 %. town in Trachis, near Mt. Oeta, near 
which Apollo was worshipped. 

303. niveis, sc. made of ivory, flexerunt, rested. — 306. Parcae. 
Cf. the description of the Fates in the tenth Book (617) of Plato's Republic, 
which Catullus is thought by some to have copied here : *KXhas 5e icaOr]- 
fizvas 7rep(£ 81 Xitov rpe7s, iv 6p6va> eKdarrjv, dvyarepas rrjs 'AvayKrjs, Motpa.?, 
Xevxeipoi/oiKras, crrifxfxaTa eVl rcou K€(pa\a>u exovaas, Kax^^iv re kclI K\co6oj 
Kal ^Arpoirov, vfivelu irphs t)]v tqov ^ciprjuccp apfxoviav, Aaxecm/ fxev ra yeyo- 
v6ra ' KXcoOco 5e, Ta ovra • "Arpo-rroj/ 5e, ra jxiKKovra. Kal riju /aev KXcodcc tt) 
5e|ia X €L P^ ^cpairrojuev^u (TvveiriaTpecpeiv rod arpaKrov ttjv e|co irepicpopav, 
diaXe'nrovaav XP 0V0V ' T ^ v ^ "Arpoiroj', rr\ apKTT€pa tcls ivrbs av wcravrcas ■ 
r-r\v 5e Aax^o-iv *v juepei cfcarepas e/carep<x tt} X eL P^ *<p<forT€(rdai. — 3°7* His 
corpus tremulum, their forms trembling with age. — 309. roseo, rose- 
crowned, the white fillets blending with these chaplets into a sort of infula, 



xiil] Catullus. 163 

which was regularly made of alternate flocks of red and white wool. 
Another explanation is that the epithets are inverted to express the blend- 
ing of each color into the other by describing the hair as red and the fillets 
as white. Es. Sn. renders : bright with the light of imt?iortality . — 310. 
carpebant, were plying. See Lex., s. v. I, B. 2. rite, after their cus- 
tom. — 312. Ilia, the fibres of the wool, supinis, upturned. — 313. 
prono, turned downwards. — 314. turbine, the whorl or whirl of the 
spindle, a small circular wheel or plate of wood or metal, through which 
the lower end of the spindle was inserted, to give it rotation and assist 
by its weight in twisting the thread tight. Rh., s. Verticillus. — 315. de- 
cerpens, sc. the rough bits of wool, lanea morsa. — 317. levi, thus 
made smooth. — 319. vellera, the balls of thready now ready for use. — 
320. Haec. For the form, see A. 101, note ; H. 186, I, foot-note 7 ; 
Roby, I, p. 128. pellentes vellera, striking the masses of unspun wool, 
sc. to loosen the fibres and break up the knots. — 321. divino, inspired, 
prophetic. See Lex., s. v. II, A. 

323. decus eximium, the distinguished honor, sc. of marrying a 
goddess. Cf. v. 25. — 324. opis, power, realm, nato, sc. Achilles. — 
326. quae fata sequuntur. Three interpretations of this clause have 
been advocated : either, the destinies zuhich are to come, with subtegmina, 
as threads, as an appositive predicate; or, which the fates obey ; or, which 
follow the course of fate. Es. thinks it unnatural to separate quae from 
fata. — 327. run, spindles, run, and weave the threads of doom. Martin. 

— 330. flexanimo, passive, soul-subdued. Other readings are : flexo 
animo ; flexanimo mentem amore, heart swayiftg, etc. — 331. languidu- 
los somnos, the soft languor of sleep. Es. — 334. contexit, has sheltered. 

— 340. vago cursus, hypallage for vagi cursus, of the wide-ranging race. 

— 341. flammea, swift as fame. — 346. periuri, sc. in falsifying his 
promise to Myrtilus (the charioteer of Oenomaus) and throwing him into 
the sea, to whom he had promised half his kingdom, if he should help him 
win Hippodameia. From the curse of Myrtilus upon the family of Pelops 
sprang all the subsequent calamities of the Pelopidae. tertius heres, 
sc. Agamemnon. — 350. incurvo, the conjecture of Es. for in civium, 
the reading of the Mss., which others change to in cinere?n. — 358. pas- 
sim . . . Hellesponto, is carried hither and thither by the swift waters 
of the Hellespont. — 360. tepefaciet. The e of the antepenult is long 
here, through the necessity of the metre, but nowhere else. A. 354, c; 
G. 712; H. 594, 6. — 362. reddita, assigned, devoted, praeda, i.e. 
Polyxena, Achilles' share of the booty of Troy, sacrificed in honor of him. 

— 367. solvere. For the infinitive instead of the gerund after dederit 
copiam, see A. 273 ; G. 429, Rem. 4; H. 533, II, 3, note 3. Pr. would 



164 Notes. [xni. 

either take solvere as an epexegetical accusative in apposition with 
copiam, or copiam dederit as = dederit by itself. Neptunia vincla, 
i.e. the walls of Troy built for Laomedon by Neptune and Apollo. — 
374. iam dudum is constructed with cupido, long-expectant, by Hertz- 
berg and Sn.; with dedatur, in the sense of forthwith, by Es. and Pr. — 
379. discordis, estranged from her husband. — 380. secubitu, separa- 
tion, mittet, shall cease. 

382. praefantes, dictating. The Parcae dictate the set words, which 
are to be followed by fate. Es. Pelei, genitive. Cf. the form Peleo, 
dative, v. 336; with felicia carmina, such strains of happiness to Peleus ; 
or, Peleus'* happy marriage song. — 383. divino, prophetic. — 384. prae- 
sentes, in bodily form, ante, in the olden time. — 385. coetu, dative. 
G. 67; H. 116; M. 46, Obs. 3. — 387. templo . . . revisens conspexit, 
i.e. returning . . . sat in his bright shrine and saw. Sn. Es. adopts Scali- 
ger's explanation that templo . . . revisens is an archaism nearly = tefnphim 
revisens, and adds that, of course, where verbs of motion are followed by 
a local ablative they express not only motion but the rest which follows 
motion. — 391. egit, drove before him. — 392. Delphi, the Delphians. 
See Lex., s. v. II. — 395. Tritonis, the name of rivers in Lybia, Boeotia, 
and Thessaly. Which of them is referred to here is doubtful, hera, i.e. 
Pallas. Ramnusia virgo, i.e. Nemesis, who had a temple and statue at 
Rhamnus. — 398. cupida, i.e. pravis cupidinibus indulgente. — 402. li- 
ber, sc. from the constraint of the presence of the son and the possibility 
of his supplanting his father in the affections of his new wife. Es. in- 
nuptae, vii'gin. novercae, sc. of the children of the previous marriage. 
Sn. renders : that he might be free to enjoy the beauty of his yet unzvedded 
second bride. — 404. For the tense of verita est, which, as well as the 
preceding verbs in the perfect indicative, is introduced by postquam, 
v. 397, see A. 324; G. 563; H. 471, 4. divos parentes, to bring the 
stain of sin upon her deified parents. Es. — 405. right and wrong in 
guilty madness mingled. Cranstoun. — 408. contingi lumine claro, to 
be bathed in the sunlight, i.e. to appear on earth. Sn. It may also be taken 
to mean : to be touched (by men) in the broad light of day, in contrast 
with being seen in night-visions. Pr. 

"The concluding lines of this poem disclose the only vein of conscious 
reflection which can be traced in all the poems of Catullus. His genuine 
feeling of ideal purity and beauty forces upon him there the contrast presented 
by the guilt and utter corruption of his own age," — Sellar, 



xiv.] Catullus. 165 



XIV. 

An apology for delay in fulfilling a request of his friend Hortalus 
— probably the celebrated orator Q. Hortensius Hortalus — to send 
him a version of the /Sepa/LKrjs IIAo/ca/xos of Callimachus, which, 
under the title of De Co?na Berenices, probably accompanied this 
poem ; and an expression of his grief for the loss of his brother, who 
had recently died in the Troad, as the occasion of the delay. 

This poem was written probably in B.C. 60, and is the earliest 
elegy of any distinction in the language. 

2. doctis virginibus, the muses. — 3. fetus, fruits, productions. 
See Lex., s. v. II, B. — 4. mens animi, a phrase occurring twice in 
Plautus and four times in Lucretius. Animus denotes the soul as includ- 
ing all its faculties, and is distinguished from mens, the thinking faculty, 
as a whole from one of its parts. D., s. Anima. — 5. nuper qualifies 
alluit. Lethaeo . . . gurgite, an adjunct of manans. — 8. obterit, 
crushes, presses upon. — 9. This line is omitted in almost all the Mss., 
and Mo. calls it a barbarous, ungrammatical interpolation. Lachmann and 
others insert here several lines from Carm. LXVIII as the best way of 
remedying the abruptness of Alloquar, etc. audiero : Es. thinks the 
future perfect gives the notion of a moment of time, or possibly that of a 
second action included in the first, and translates : shall I never speak with 
thee, and in speaking hear thee talk of what thou hast done. To fill the 
gap after tua, facta, verba, and fata have been suggested. — 12. tua 
morte, an adjunct of maesta. tegam, the reading of most Mss., re- 
tained by Es., and rendered by him, / will muffle or veil in silence; by 
Pr., / will pour in secret, sc. as the nightingale under the thick foliage. 
The reading cana?n is adopted by Lachmann and by Mo., whose criticism 
upon the rendering of Es. is : "As if the nightingale ever muffled or veiled 
in silence its song, or as if tegam carmina had any meaning at all." — 
14. Daulias, i.e. Procne, who was changed into a nightingale, or, accord- 
ing to some, into a swallow. Diet. Biog. — 15. Sed introduces the apodosis 
or principal clause of the sentence, which had been interrupted by the pa- 
renthesis in vs. 9-14. H. 554, IV, 3 ; M. 480. — 16. expressa, translated. 
Battiadae, the poet Callimachus, a son of Battus of Cyrene. — 17. tua 
dicta, i.e. probably a request of Hortensius for a gift of some such literary 
work as the De Co??ia Berenices, nequicquam credita, i.e. faring no 
better than if they had been vainly consigned, etc. Pr. — 18. effluxisse 
meo ammo, have vanished fro?n my memory. — 19. munere, i.e. by 



1 66 Notes. [xv. 

•way of, or, as a gift, malum, often given as a love-token. — 20. pro- 
currit . . . excutitur, escapes from her innocent bosom, which, laid in a 
fold of the poor thoughtless girPs soft robe, is shaken out. Sn. — 23. atque 
introduces in the form of an emphatic concluding clause a sudden and 
unexpected catastrophe. Es. — 24. huic is in contrast to illud. con- 
scius : see Lex., s. v. II, B. 



XV. 

To C. Licinius Macer Calvus, the orator and poet, on the death 
of Quintilia his wife. 

I. sepulcris, put for the dead buried in them. — 3. Instead of quo 
many editors read quum. desiderio is in apposition with dolore. — 
4. missas, lost. Mo. prefers the reading amissas, on the ground that 
mittere never has the force of a?nittere. Cf. Cranstoun's version : 

" Calvus ! if from our grief aught can accrue 

The silent dead to solace or to cheer, 
When fond regret broods o'er old loves anew, 

And o'er lost friendships sheds the bitter tear 
Oh ! then her grief at death's untimely blow 

To thy Quintilia far, far less must prove 
Than the pure joy her soul must feel, to know 

Thy true, unchanging, ever-during love." 

" These elegiac lines, in which Catullus comforts his friend Calvus for the 
loss of Quintilia, bear witness to the strength and delicacy of his friendship, and 
along with others of his poems make us feel that the life of pleasure in that age 
was not only brightened by genius and culture, but also elevated by pure affec- 
tion and unselfish sympathy." — Sellar. 



XVI. 



Written on his Bithynian tour at Rhoeteum, the burial-place 
of his brother. 

2. inferias. Oblations called inferiae, which consisted of victims, 
wine, milk, honey, flowers, etc., were regularly made at the tombs of near 
relatives, by their surviving kindred, from feelings of affection. Ry. — 
3. munere mortis, i.e. quod mortuis offertur. Dg. — 6. indigne, sc. 
because the death was premature. — 7. tamen, i.e. as some compensation, 
though a poor one. Es. interea, i.e. perhaps, till I can do more. Sn. — 
8. munere. See XIV, 19, note. — 10. in perpetuum ave atque vale, 



xvi.] Catullus. 167 

the solemn words of farewell to the dead, uttered at the conclusion of the 
inferiae. 

" Brother! o'er many lands and oceans borne, 

I reach thy grave, death's last sad rite to pay; 
To call thy silent dust in vain, and mourn, 

Since ruthless fate has hurried thee away: 
Woe's me ! Yet now upon thy tomb I lay, 

All soaked with tears for thee, thee loved so well, 
What gifts our fathers gave the honored clay 

Of valued friends ; take them, my grief they tell : 
And now, for ever hail ! for ever fare-thee-well ! " — CRANSTOUN. 

"Catullus' words in reference to this great sorrow, in all the poems in which 
he speaks of it, are full of deep and simple human feeling. He does not ven- 
ture to comfort himself with the hope, which he suggests to Calvus in the lines 
on the death of Quintilia, of a conscious existence after death ; but he resolves 
that his love shall still endure even after the eternal separation from its object." 
— SELLAR. 



NOTES TO LUCRETIUS. 



INTRODUCTION. 

T LUCRETIUS CARUS was born near the close of the year 
• 99 B.C., or early in the year 98; but the place of his birth 
and his parentage are unknown. 

He speaks in his poem of the Latin as his native language 
(I, 831 ; III, 260) ; and it has been inferred from his gentilic name, 
which does not seem to have become common in other parts of 
Italy, that he was descended from one of the most ancient patrician 
houses of Rome, famous in the early annals of the Republic. Sellar 
remarks : 

M The whole tone of his poem indicates his position as that of a man living 
in easy circumstances and familiar with the life of pleasure and luxury, though 
repelled by it ; and so he must have belonged either to a senatorian or to one 
of the richer equestrian families." 

Lucretius was an intimate friend of C. Memmius Gemellus, upon 
whose staff, when propraetor of Bithynia, Catullus served, and who 
was consul in 54 B.C. Of about the same age, it has been con- 
jectured that they were associated in their early education and were 
held together by their common literary tastes, for Memmius was 
eminent in literature and oratory, though he became notorious for his 
profligacy ; and to him Lucretius dedicated his one and only work. 

Respecting his literary studies, the only source of information is 
his poem, in which he shows himself a profound student and admirer 
of Epicurus and Empedocles, makes frequent allusions to the Stoics, 
discusses doctrines of the philosphers Democritus, Anaxagoras, and 
Heraclitus, not only mentions Homer among the poets as sceptra 
fiotitus, but imitates him and Euripides in numerous passages, pays 
graceful tribute to his countryman Ennius in the words 

" Ennius ut noster cecinit qui primus amoeno 
detulit ex Helicone perenni fronde coronam, 
per gentis Italas hominum que clara cluerat " — I. 117-119, 



Lucretius. 169 

and discloses throughout the work, in his diction and rhythm, an 
intimate acquaintance with the writings of that poet, and in his 
account of the plague at Athens follows closely the language of 
Thucydides. 

It is evident that Lucretius lived a very secluded life, for no men- 
tion is made of him in his lifetime by any of his contemporaries ; 
nor are any other facts respecting him certainly known, except that 
he died October 15, B.C. 65. 

As to the credibility of the statement of Jerome (in his additions 
to the Eusebian chronicle) that Lucretius' work was composed dur- 
ing the lucid intervals of insanity occasioned by a " love potion," 
and that he committed suicide, the opinions of recent critics are 
divided. Teuffel urges caution against any rash acceptance of these 
statements. Lachmann and Cruttwell find nothing incredible in the 
story, the latter adding that it " may perhaps meet with a qualified 
acceptance. 1 ' Munro seems to doubt, and refers to Sellar's exami- 
nation of the story, who remarks that it can neither be verified nor 
refuted. He is, however, inclined to accept the account "as a 
meagre and distorted record of tragical events in his life." 

Some of the personal characteristics of Lucretius of which Sellar 
finds indications in his writings — "some glimpses of his habitual 
pursuits and tastes, indirect traces of the impression produced upon 
him by the age in which he lived " — are as follows : 

11 The tone of many passages in the poem clearly indicates that Lucretius, 
though taking no personal part in politics, was profoundly moved by the effects 
which they produced on human happiness and character. Thus the lines at 
III, 70-74 recall the thought and spectacle of crime and bloodshed presented 
to him in the impressible years of his youth ; and other passages are an imme- 
diate reflection of the anarchy and alarm of the times in which the poem was 
written. 

" One general impression received from his poem is that of a man who, 
from a strong distaste to the life of action and social pleasure, deliberately chose 
the life of contemplation. 

" Some illustrations of his argument imply that he had not always been a 
stranger to the enjoyments of city life, and that they attracted him by a certain 
fascination of pomp and novelty. But such illustrations are rare when com- 
pared with those which speak of a life passed in the open air, and of intimate 
familiarity with many aspects of nature. Many bright illustrations of his 
argument tell of hours spent by the sea-shore; other passages show his 
familiarity with inland scenes, — with the violent rush of rivers in flood or their 
stately flow through fresh meadows ; or, again, with all the processes of hus- 



170 Notes. 

bandry, the growth of plants and trees, and the ways of flocks and herds in 
their pastures ; or, again, some foretaste of the modern passion for the moun- 
tains ; while the mention of companionship in some of his mountain wanderings 
and in other scenes enables us to think of him as not separated from other men 
in the daily intercourse of life by an unsocial austerity. 

" His dominant impulse is the ardent desire to emancipate human life from 
the fears and passions by which it is marred and degraded ; and he has more 
of the zeal of a religious reformer than any other ancient thinker except 
Socrates. It is the constant presence of this practical purpose, and the pro- 
found sense which he has of the actual misery and degradation of human life, 
and of the peace and dignity which are attainable by man, that impart to his 
words the peculiar tone of impassioned earnestness to which there is no parallel 
in ancient literature. 

" In various passages appears his consciousness both of the greatness of the 
work on which he was engaged and of his own power to cope with it. With- 
out disowning the passion for fame, he manifests great delight in the exercise 
of his art, and reveals the thoroughness and devotion of a student, and the 
absorbing interest with which he carried on the work of inquiry and of com- 
position. 

. "In his fortitude, his superiority to human weakness, his seriousness of 
spirit, his dignity of bearing, he seems to embody the great Roman qualities, 
constantia and gravltas. But he also combines a poetic freshness of feeling, a 
love of simple living, an independence of the world with a tenderness and 
breadth of sympathy and a power of sounding into the depths of human sorrow 
such as only a very few among the ancients — Homer, Sophocles, Virgil — and 
not many among the poets or thinkers of the modern world have displayed. In 
no quality does he rise further above the standard of his age than in his abso- 
lute sincerity and his unswerving devotion to truth." 

The De Rerum Natura of Lucretius is a didactic poem in hex- 
ameter verse in six Books ; which was left at his death unfinished, 
as Lachmann has proved. 

From Jerome's statement aliquot libros quos postea Cicero emen- 
davit, it has been supposed that Cicero both corrected it and super- 
intended its publication ; and a passage in Cicero's letter * to his 

* Lucretii poemata ut scribis ita sunt multis hcminibus ingenii multae tamen 
arti's sed cum veneris virum te Putabo si Salustii Emj>edoclea legeris hominem 
non putabo. ad Quint. II, 11. 

Nearly all editors insert non before multis. Instead of this, Munro suggests the 
change of sed cum veneris to esse cum inveneris ; or, if non should be inserted at all, 
he (and Sellar also) would place it before multae, or would insert etiam before artis. 
Munro and Sellar are also of the opinion that the Ms. reading may be correct, and that 
the passage may be a short summing up of some criticism of Quintus, thus: I agree with 
you that there is much genius in the poem of Lucretius, and {though this is less 
apparent) much art. 



Lucretius. * 171 

brother Quintus, of February, 54 B.C., shows that he had read the 
poem, and (if the letter is correctly interpreted by Munro and 
Sellar) that he had a high appreciation of the genius of its author. 
But respecting the question of Cicero's editorship there has been a 
good deal of discussion and doubt. Munro (Lucretius, p. 298-300) 
maintains the affirmative of the question. Cruttwell {Hist, of Rom. 
Lit., p. 221) holds to the negative. Sellar (p. 278-281) argues both 
sides of the case, and " suspends judgment." 

The object of this poem of Lucretius was to interpret the meaning 
and explain the operations of the power underlying and producing 
all natural phenomena in those spheres of action that most directly 
affect human welfare. In particular : It aims to free men from a 
superstitious fear of the gods and from the passions and weaknesses 
to which they become subject, particularly the fear of death, by 
means of certain philosophical truths and the moral precepts con- 
nected with them, exhibited in poetic form. 

The first two Books set forth in systematic form certain funda- 
mental principles of the atomic philosophy as set forth by Democritus 
and adopted and developed by Epicurus. The remaining four apply 
these philosophical principles to the true explanation of nature, in 
order to overthrow the false notions which are the chief source of 
the evils of mankind. The third Book discusses the nature of the 
human soul. The fourth (which is in part supplementary to the 
third, and is in an incomplete condition) treats of the nature of 
the senses, the passion of love, and the images thrown off from all 
bodies. The fifth explains the origin of the heavens, of the earth, 
of vegetable and animal life upon it, and the origin and the progress 
of mankind from the primitive savage state to the arts and usages of 
civilization. The sixth (which is also unfinished) describes and 
accounts for certain natural phenomena — earthquakes, volcanoes, 
tempests, thunder-storms, etc., and ends with an account of the 
memorable plague at Athens. 

The substance of Sellar's presentation of Lucretius' philosophical 
doctrines, and of his ethical teachings, is as follows : 

"While Lucretius teaches that the gods and goddesses of the popular 
mythology were creations of the imagination out of physical phenomena, or 
moral ideas, or ancient events, or were human beings deified at death ; and 
while he even denies the doctrine of a divine providence and of future retribu- 
tion (because he identifies all religion with the cruel or childish fables of the 



172 Notes. 

popular faith in a capricious tyranny of the gods over the world), and that there 
is any virtue in outward worship, rites, and offerings ; yet many passages show 
or imply that he believes in the existence of superhuman intelligences, the 
embodiment of what is right and pure and noble in man, composed of the 
finest and purest essence, exempt from death, superior to passions and desires, 
and dwelling forever in untroubled serenity and in unclouded light. Their 
abode he beautifully describes in Book III. The universe, however, has not 
been created and is not regulated by them. 

"But all things have their origin in and are composed of certain minute 
solid atoms, always existing, indestructible, infinite in number, various in form, 
imperceptible to the senses, capable of certain combinations with each other 
brought about by their perpetual motion in space, and causing the growth and 
change of all things. Into these, all things now existing are ultimately resolved, 
and out of them new forms continually arise. These original particles he calls 
primordia t mater ies, corpora genitalia, semina rerum, corpora prima* 

" This theory of atoms is really deduced from and has involved in it and 
underlying it the idea of universal order or law and causation in nature. This 
idea is prior to and the condition of the principles enunciated in the first and 
second Books, although the fact of universal order is supposed to result from 
these properties of atoms. Thus the real subject of the poem is maiestas cognita 
rerum — the discovered majesty or order of the universe. And the corner- 
stone of the argument is, that no existing thing was formed out of nothing, nor 
any change or event brought about arbitrarily by divinities with the passions or 
caprices of men ; and that all existing things and changes are not the result of 
chance, but of certain regular and orderly processes, dependent upon certain 
primal conditions. 

" But Lucretius's idea of law in nature also implies, at least, the further idea 
of power. A secret force, analogous to volition in man, is conceived to be 
inherent in these primal atoms. With unconscious inconsistency with the blind 
and dead materialism on which his philosophy professes to be based, he tacitly 
assumes the presence of a secret faculty in the atoms distinct from their other 
properties. And thus he is led up (whether or not this is consciously realized 
by him) to the broader and higher idea of will. 

" In his idea of nature there is implied the idea of a concealed omnipotence 
pervading the world ; and to this nature he attributes not only life but creative 

* The germ of the atomic theory is attributed to Leucippus, was next taught by 
Democritus, and fully developed by Epicurus. But his works are lost to us; so that this 
most astonishing fruit of ancient thought, which has been adopted and substantiated by 
modern experimental science, is to be found fully described only in Lucretius's poem. The 
propositions in which he has stated this theory anticipate some recent scientific discoveries 
in a most marvellous way. His doctrines of the existence of atoms and their indestructi- 
bility, and of their incessant motion, is now accepted by science as certainly true. His 
proposition, that matter was never more or less dense than it is now, and that the atoms 
always move with the same velocity, foreshadows the modern doctrine of the conservation 
of energy. And Lucretius must be allowed great merit in having taught that the motion 
of matter was as indestructible as its material existence. — North British Review. 



Lucretius. 173 

power and a governing power, in many passages. In many places, too, the 
imagination, which recognizes the presence of infinite life and harmony in the 
world, endows the great forces of this mysterious power with personal and 
human qualities — consciousness and will. This is done with the license indeed 
of poetry, but yet with an unconscious acknowledgment of some attribute analo- 
gous to will, in a power independent of and superior to man ; as in the invoca- 
tion, where it is identified with the goddess of love. The expressions rerum 
natura, summa rerum, etc., are often used to denote this power — the all-per- 
vading source of life, the creator and sustainer of all order and beauty. 

" This doctrine of Lucretius, though antagonistic to the popular religion, is 
not atheistic nor pantheistic ; it is not definite enough to be theistic. It is rather 
the twilight between an old and a new faith. The new attributes he attaches to 
nature, as an organic whole, are independent of and ultimately inconsistent with 
the principles of the atomic philosophy. The higher conception of God was 
neither consciously accepted nor consciously denied by him. So, there is in 
his denial of the popular faith the latent germ of a higher and more rational 
belief. The sense of will, active force and individual life, ever present in the 
poem, comes nearer to an unconscious, half-realized theism than to the panthe- 
istic conception of nature and of human life. 

" The human soul or vital principle, Lucretius teaches, is material ; com- 
posed of the finest atoms, but born and growing with the body, united with it 
as perfume with incense, and perishing with it. It is made up of two parts — 
the animus situated in the breast, the anima united with it, but diffused through 
the whole body. The animus is like the pupil of the eye, the least hurt to which 
destroys the sight ; the anima is like the rest of the eyeball, much of which may 
be cut away and the sight continue. 

" The ethical teachings of Lucretius are moulded by this idea of law in 
nature. Though the fortunes of life and individual characteristics are the effects 
of the varied combinations of atoms, yet when once reason and knowledge have 
resulted they make man capable of freedom and virtue ; which he actually 
attains by conformity to the order and law of the universe, and has thus the 
power to live a life worthy of the gods. 

" He therefore insists on this obedience as the one good which man needs, 
and as producing the real pleasure which Epicurus taught was the true end of 
life. ' Life may go on without corn or wine, but not without a pure heart.' 
He describes how the worst evils of life spring out of the corruption of the 
heart ; and aims ' to cleanse men's breasts with truth-telling precepts and fix a 
limit to passion and fear, and to point out the chief good and the path leading 
to it.' He therefore delineates and illustrates the evils of the passions to which 
men were most subject in his age — ambition, greed of wealth, and sensual 
pleasure. No sentiment is more powerfully enforced than the happiness and 
dignity of plain living, the inability of riches and luxury to give real enjoyment, 
and the terrible evils they had often brought upon men's characters ; and he 
expresses bitter hostility towards love degraded and sensualized, and empha- 
sizes its unmanliness and the ultimate wreck of character which it causes. 

" Even out of his doctrine that the soul perishes at death he draws lessons 



174 Notes. 

of morality, in the last part of Book III. One of these is the necessity of virtue 
for man's welfare; for the fear of death and what lies beyond is the inevitable 
effect of an evil course of life and a guilty conscience, and cannot be thrown off 
except by virtuous living. Another is fortitude, and resignation to that which 
is the common lot of all. A third is the importance of making the most of life 
in the best sense, since this life is all we have. Still another is the certainty that 
wrong-doing is overtaken by retribution in this life, in the necessary misery of a 
character morally diseased and discordant with itself. The scorpion stings of 
conscience he vividly depicts, ending with the declaration that ' the life of the 
wicked is the woe of Acheron.' " 

The chief poetic excellences of this work are to be found in the 
introductions to the several Books, particularly the first and second ; 
in the impassioned and lofty tone of earnestness with which at in- 
tervals he applies and enforces the practical teachings of his philoso- 
phy ; in his eloquent appeals for the reception of truth and virtue ; 
and in those not infrequent digressions — " rich and quiet resting- 
places in the toilsome march of argument " — which consist of 
descriptions of natural scenery and phenomena and interpretations 
of them, and sketches of various experiences in human life, with 
comments upon them. 

The fifth Book not only furnishes some of the finest illustrations 
of his poetic abilities, but, from its unity of design, the nature of its 
special theme, the completeness with which that is treated, the lofty 
imaginative power and luxuriance of imagery displayed in it, may 
properly claim for itself the rank and title of an Epic. Opening 
with a laudation of Epicurus for the great value of his philosophy, 
a statement of the connection between the particular subject of this 
Book and the general principles already established, and the infer- 
ence from them that the earth is not eternal nor fashioned by the 
gods, but the product of nature built up by certain laws from the 
ultimate atoms and therefore having a beginning and destined to 
have an end, he proceeds to sketch its " wondrous past" from the 
dawn of creation, with its most striking phenomena, beautiful, awful, 
or grand, and the history of man, — a broader and loftier theme for 
a true Epic than the career of any one race of men, short lived and 
limited within narrow geographical bounds in its career. 

The picture he draws of chaos and of the transition to the order 
and beauty of creation which succeeded, has been compared to the 
opening symphony of Haydn's* oratorio, where the same thing is 
represented to the ear by the harshest discord of which the orches- 






Lucretius. 175 

tra is capable, subsiding and melting into the most melodious 
music; and it has been styled "the most magnificent that ever 
flowed from human pen." The description of the seasons far sur- 
passes Thomson's finest lines upon them, of which it may have 
been the model. After sketching the primitive life and manners of 
mankind, he traces the progress of civilization, of religion, and of the 
various forms of government from their rudest beginnings ; in the 
spirit of a true Roman who had inherited the ancestral virtues, 
setting forth the family as the beginning and the grand means of 
human enlightenment, and associating with it music, as a powerful 
auxiliary in elevating the race from barbarism to civilized life. 

It is with reference to such portions of the poem as these that 
Niebuhr declares that " Lucretius holds the first place among Roman 
poets in sublimity" ; that Sellar calls him " the great contemplative 
poet of antiquity " ; and that Schlegel remarks that "Lucretius has 
shown himself a glorious painter of- nature, and as nature's own 
minstrel surpasses all the bards of antiquity"; adding that "in 
didactic poetry the Romans surpassed their predecessors the 
Greeks." 

" The poetical style of Lucretius," Sellar remarks, " is chiefly marked by 
freshness and fulness of meaning, and by a daring energy in the use of meta- 
phorical expressions. Few poets convey so much meaning by the use of simple 
words expressive of the full and literal truth of things. 

" There is much roughness and inequality in the artistic execution of the 
poem. A few passages indeed show the finest sense of harmony, <and are 
finished in a style scarcely, if at all, inferior to that of Virgil, such as the intro- 
ductions to the first three Books. But long passages in the poem approach 
almost as near to the roughness of Ennius. Even the greatest passages are 
characterized by a monotony of cadence, implying inferior skill in rhythm to 
that of his greatest successor. Yet there is a kind of grandeur and dignity even 
in the monotony of the verse, varied as it is by occasionally deeper and more 
majestic tones, or falling into a softer and more harmonious cadence, as the 
argument sweeps through the sublimer or the serener and more beautiful 
phases of his subject." 

" Many of the older and clumsier forms are to be met with in his lines. 
There are some irregularities of construction ; numerous compounds expressive 
and forcible, but often not euphonious, manufactured to suit the necessities of 
the thought, and some of them adopted by no other writer ; not unfrequently 
the use of words in an antiquated sense or one peculiar to him ; occasionally, a 
harsh succession of sounds, a heaviness of movement through the line, and an 
apparently needless repetition of epithets. Yet he more than compensates for 
all these defects by such an ingenious grouping of words as to make the thought 



176 Notes. [book 1. 

luminous, by compound epithets whicn are picturesque and impart conciseness 
and strength, and by a diction stately and majestic." 

" His language is Thucydidean in its chiselled outline, its quarried strength, 
its living expressiveness. His style is fresh, strong, and impetuous, but fre- 
quently and intentionally rugged. Repetitions occasionally wearisome, and 
prosaic constructions occur. Poetry is sacrificed to logic in the innumerable 
particles of transition, and in the painful precision, which at times leaves 
nothing to the imagination of the reader. But his vocabulary is not prosaic ; 
it is poetical to a degree exceeding that of all other Latin writers, while his 
Latin has the purity of that of Cicero or Terence. His poetical ornaments 
are those of the older writers. Archaism, alliteration, and assonance abound 
in his pages." — CRUTTWELL. 



BOOK I. 



Lines 1-43 of .the poem are an invocation of Venus, as a symbol of the 
all-pervading living force of nature, and as the legendary mother of the 
Romans ; which relations are vividly contrasted in the first line. 

1. Aeneadum genetrix, both poetical words, divom. A. 40,/; 
G. 29, 3; H. 52, 3. voluptas, the abstract for the concrete, delight, dar- 
ling. See Lex., s. v. II, A. — 2. alma, increase-giving, has a peculiar 
force with reference to all that follows, lafoentia, descriptive of their 
smooth and easy motion. — 3. terras, the plural of the accusative and 
ablative used by L. oftener than the singular, of the earth as an extended 
surface or a solid mass, frugiferentis. M. 43, 2; A. 87, c, H. 157; 
Roby, I, 419. — 4. concelebr&s, fittest with life, Lex.; with thy presence, 
and thus performest the part of a multitude — which is the first meaning 
of the word. This sense also implies that of peopling. — 5. lumina, the 
plural more frequent in the jnominative and accusative in L. to express the 
sunlight. — 7. daedala, here passive, artificially fashioned, variegated. 
For its use in the active sense see IV, 551: verborum daedala lingua; 
and v. 234.-8. summittit, causes to spring up, a favorite word of L. 
in this sense. 

With these lines cf. Spenser, Faerie Queene, Book IV, Canto X, 44 : 

" Great Venus ! Queene of beautie and of grace, 
The ioy of gods and men, that under skie 
Doest fayrest shine, and most adorne thy place ; 
That with thy smyling looke doest pacifie 
The raging seas, and makst the stormes to flie ; 
And, when thou spredst thy mantle forth on hie, 
The waters play, and pleasant lands appeare, n 

And heavens laugh, and al the world shows ioyous cheare. 



book i.] Lucretius. 177 

— 10. Quae. M. 448 ; A. 201, e; G. 612; H. 453. — n. Mo. queries 
whether dias can mean either bright or open, according to all its analogies 
in Latin, Greek, and Sanskrit. Cf. dia voluptas, II, 172, and pastorum 
. . . otia diva, V, 435 (1389), the only other passages where it occurs. 
luminis oras, a favorite phrase to denote the line or border which divides 
light from darkness, being from non-being. — 13. scrlbendis versibus, 
dative of purpose. A. 299; G. 430; H. 544, note 2. — 14. de rerum 
natura. This title L. doubtless gave to his poem in imitation of Epicurus' 
great work irepl (pvaecos in thirty-seven Books, of which only some frag- 
ments are extant. The same title was given by Empedocles to his chief 
poem in three Books, which must in some degree have served L. for a 
model. These two words with corptts and ratio occur with curious fre- 
quency in L. Natura is sometimes an active force or agency ; sometimes 
an inert mass; sometimes an abstract term; sometimes as in I, 419, it seems 
synonymous with the omne. i?^has (with this author) many abstract mean- 
ings ; but as a physical term it signifies composite things in being, in con- 
tradistinction to the primordia or corpora prima out of which things are 
made, I, 420, 449, 504 being apparent rather than real exceptions. Natura 
rerum is therefore coextensive with the snmma rertim, comprehending 
the infinity of worlds in being throughout the omne, and denoting some- 
times the summa itself, sometimes that universally pervading agency by 
which the summa goes on. Often natura means the inner nature and 
essence of things. Mo. 15. Memmiadae, a hybrid word like Scipiadas. 
See A. 164, b ; H. 322; M. 183. The apparent contradiction between 
this opening address and the philosophical principles of L. has been vari- 
ously accounted for. The most satisfactory explanation is that of Sellar : 

" The mysterious power here addressed is identified with the Alma Venus 
of Italian worship, — the abstract conception of the life-giving impulse, the 
operations of which are most visible in the new birth of the early spring, — and 
with the Aphrodite of Greek art and poetry, — the concrete and passionate 
conception of the beauty and charm which most fascinate the senses. If 
nothing more was meant in the opening lines of the poem than a fanciful appeal 
to one of the Deities of the popular belief, it might with justice be said that 
some of the finest poetry in Lucretius directly contradicted his sincerest con- 
victions. 

" But the language in which she is addressed clearly proves that the 'Alma 
Venus 1 of the invocation is not an independent capricious power, separate from 
the orderly action of Nature. She is emphatically addressed as a Power, 
present through all the world. She is not only omnipresent, but all-creative 
and all-regulative. To this mysterious Power, from whom all joy and loveli- 
ness are silently emanating, the poet (remembering at the same time that the 
friend to whom he dedicates his poem claims especially to be under the pro- 
tection of that Goddess with whom she is identified) prays for inspiration. If 
to regard this passage as merely an artistic ornament of the poem would be 
unjust to the sincerity of Lucretius as a thinker, to regard it merely as a piece 
of elaborate symbolism would be still more unjust to his genius as a poet. It is 



178 Notes. [book 1. 

a truth both of thought and of imaginative feeling that there is a pervading and 
puissant energy in the world, manifesting itself most powerfully in animate and 
inanimate creation when the deadness of winter gives place to the genial 
warmth of spring, manifesting itself also in the human spirit in the form of 
genius, calling into life new feelings and fancies of the poet, and shaping them 
into forms of imperishable beauty. Whether consistently or inconsistently with 
the ultimate tenets of his philosophy, the poet, in this invocation, seems to 
recognize, behind these manifestations of unconscious energy, the presence 
of a conscious Being with which his own spirit can hold communion, and from 
which it draws inspiration." 

18-29. A statement of the subject of the poem, in the form of an invi- 
tation to Memmius to attend while the nature of the first elements of things 
is explained. It is thought that the first part of the first sentence must 
have been a dedication to Memmius, which was Crowded out by the pre- 
ceding six lines (vs. 44-49), which are an interpolation. 

18. Quod superest. To proceed to what remains ; a favorite expres- 
sion of L., and often put in the middle of a sentence at the beginning of 
the apodosis as here, vacuas auris. Cf. Quint. Instit.X, 1, 32; ilia 
Sallustiana brevitas qua nihil apud aures vacuas atque eruditas potest 
esse per fectius. sagacem, a favorite epithet in L. of animus and mens ; 
the metaphor is from the scent of dogs. — 19. veram ad. rationem = 
Epicuri philosophiam. Ratio is as common, and has as many meanings 
in L. as in Cicero. Cf. v. 22, system, v. 27, etc. — 23. incipiam, / will 
attempt, primordia, the first beginnings, (often as here with rerum), is 
here declared by L. to be his distinctive term for the atoms, or first ele- 
ments of things. In the following lines he mentions several synonyms; 
as materies, corpora genitalia, or prima, semina rerum. In other places he 
also uses corpora alone, with rerum, and with material, corpuscula, semina 
alone ; also ele7nenta. None of these terms are used by him in the singu- 
lar to denote one atoin, except corpus once or twice. — 24. unde = ex 
quibus. — 25. qno^Q — et in quae. — 26. quae refers to primordia. 
genitalia . . . rebus — corpora quae sunt genitalia rebus. On the 
construction see M. 241, 3; A. 226, £ ; H. 384, 4, note 2. — 27. red- 
dunda in ratione, in explaining their reason. — 28. usurpare, to 
name or call habitually. — 29. primis, in apposition with illis = illis ut 
primis. 

30-47. Praise of Epicurus for having been the first to discover the 
groundlessness of a superstitious fear of the gods, the sinfulness of which 
fear is illustrated in vs. 52-69, by a vivid picture of the sacrifice of Iphi- 
genia. — 30. ante oculos, i.e. plain for all to see. iaceret, lay pros- 
irate. See Lex., s. v., II, C. — 31. religione. It is inferred from L.'s 
use of the phrase religiorium animum nodis exsolvere (I, 931 and IV, 7), 
that he supposed religio to be derived from religare. But cf. Cic. De NaU 



book i.] Lucretius. 179 

Deorum, II, 28 : Qui autem omnia, quae ad cultum deorum pertinerent, 
dilige?iter retractarent et tamquam relegerent, sunt dicti religiosi ex rele- 
gendo, ut elegantes ex eligendo, ex diligendo diligentes, ex intellegendo 
intellegentes ; his enim in verbis omnibus inest vis legendi eadem, quae 
in religioso ; II, 3: religione, id est cultu deorum; De Invent. II, 53, 
161 : Religio est, quae super ioris cuiusdam naturae (qua??i divinam 
vocant) cur am, caeri?nonia77i affert ; and A. Gellius (IV, 9), who copies 
a line quoted by Nigidius Figulus, the Pythagorean philosopher contempo- 
rary with Cicero, from an ancient poem : religentem te oportet esse, religio- 
sus ne fuas. Schoemann, in his commentary upon Cic. De Nat. Deorum, 
asserts that " this verse cannot be held to warrant the derivation given 
by Cicero, as religens is not a current word, but one manufactured by 
the poet to suit that derivation " ; and with Corssen assumes the stem 
LIG = to bifid. But Curtius, Vanicek, and the lexicons of Klotz and 
Georges endorse Cicero's derivation. Fick also traces religio to a root 
signifying to care for, to trouble one's self for. — 33. super mortalibus 
instans, standing over mortals being herself above. — 34. Graius homo, 
sc. Epicurus. — 36. fama, the story, the traditional belief. — 38. inritat, 
perfect tense. See A. 128, a; H. 235; Roby, I, 662. — 41. flamman- 
tia . . . mun&i, denotes the fiery orb of ether that forms the outer circuit 
of the world. See V, 132-145 for a full description of its nature. Cf. 
Gray: " the flaming bounds of space and time." — 42. omne . . . pera- 
gravit, an emphatic oxymoron : he traversed in thought the immeasurable 
universe, mente animoque, a mere poetical tautology. Cf. Ill, 84: 
animum dico, mente??i quam saepe vocamus. — 45. alte . . . haerens, a 
metaphor from a stone pillar as a boundary between two estates. — 
46. pedibus subiecta. Cf. Virg. Georg. II, 490-492, where he clearly 
refers to Lucretius : 

" Felix, qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas, 
Atque metus omnes et inexorabile fatum 
Subiecit pedibus strepitumque Acherontis avari." 

50. quod, the old ablative, originally with the sense of qua re, quam 
obrem, and the like. Ritschl ; with contra, whereas on the contrary. 
But see H. 453,6; Roby, II, 1897 an< ^ note ; and cf. Cic. De Senect. 
XXIII, 84; De A?nicit. XXIV, 90. ilia, emphatic in a bad sense. — 
52. Triviai. See Catullus VIII, 15, note. — 53. Iphianassai. For the 
form see A. 36 ; G. 27, Rem. 1 ; H. 492. — 54. prima virorum. See 
A. 216, b; G. 371, 7; H. 397, 3, note 4. — 55. infula, a flock of wool 
dyed red and white, and knotted at regular intervals with a riband (vitta), 
so as to form a long fillet. It was worn as a diadem round the head, with 
long ends hanging down on each side, by the vestals and other members 



180 Notes. [book i. 

of the priesthood ; and by the victim (hostia) when dressed out for the 
sacrifice. Rh. comptus = comptas comas, governed by cireum in com- 
position. Holtze. — 56. pari parte, almost an adverb == pariter. — 58. 
hunc propter. See G. 680, 3; H. 569, II, 1. — 60. genibus sum- 
missa, let down by her knees ; though just possibly, at the knees of others. 
petebat, more graphic than the perfect. — 61. in tali tempore. See 
A. 256, a; G. 393; H. 429, 1. This use of in occurs more than twenty 
times in L. — 63-68. Notice the studied ambiguity in the terms common 
to marriage and to sacrifice ; and the studied contrast between the youth 
and innocence of the victim and her cruel fate. — 63. sublata, used of 
the ceremony of taking the bride by violence from her mother ; tremi- 
bunda, to express at once the trembling of the victim and the fluttering 
anxiety of the bride. — 64. deducta, said of the victim, and also of escort- 
ing the bride to her husband. — 65. perfecto, having been co??ipleted. 
comitari, passive. Hymenaeo, the nuptial song, chanted while the 
bride was escorted in procession from the home of her parents to that of 
her husband. Ry. — 67. maesta, made emphatic by its separation from 
hostia and its position between mactatu and parentis — the father 
who should have given away the bride. — 68. exitus, sc. of the fleet from 
Aulis. " The beautiful picture of the sacrifice of Iphigenia is conceived 
with the finest plastic and pictorial power." Sellar. 

70-72. These verses are repeated in the 2d, 3d, and 6th Books, and 
form in fact the keystone of Epicurean physics : The knowledge of nature 
is desirable, not for itself, but in order to overthrow ignorance and super- 
stition. — 70. igitur, i.e. well then, to come to my subject, difficult as it is 
in Latin, terrorem animi tenebrasque refers to all that precedes, from 
v. 30. — 72. species, is the outward form and aspect ; ratio, the inner law 
and principle after which nature develops itself, naturae ratio being a 
translation of Epicurus' ^vaioXoyia. — 73. Principium, the first principle. 
cuius, sc. naturae ; here monosyllabic. — 74. nullam . . . gigni. Cf. 
the language of Tyndall : " Neither in the organic world nor in the inor- 
ganic is power produced without the expenditure of other power." — 
81. et . . . et explain quod sequimur, what we are seeking. These two 
verses therefore merely state in other words, v. 74. unde, i.e. quana?n ex 
materia. — 82. quaeque is neuter. 



book ii.] Lucrethis. 181 



BOOK II. 

"In this impressive passage — the opening of the Second Book — the 
security and charm of the contemplative life are contrasted with the restless 
anxieties and alarms of the life of worldly ambition." — Sellar. 

i. Suave, a rare exception to the usage of L. not to omit the substan- 
tive verb, inari, ablative. — 2. laborem. See Lex., s. v. B. I. — 
4. quibus malis = ea mala quibus. careas, the indefinite second per- 
son singular, of course. A. 309, a; G. 252; H. 485, note 3; M. 370. — 
8. doctrina, governed by muiiita, which has at once its literal meaning 
and the common metaphorical one. tenipla. See Lex., s. v. I, B. 1, and 
V, 208, note. — 9. despicere, to look down with scorn upon. — 11. con- 
tendere nobilitate, denotes the rivalry of birth. — 13. rerum. A. 249, 
a; G. 405, Rem. 3; H. 410, V, 3. — 16. hoc . . . quodcumquest = 
omne hoc aevum. videre. A. 274; G. 534; H. 539, III. The omission 
of the subject accusative with this infinitive of indignation is very rare. — 
17. naturam — the whole nature of man (as in v. 23) of which corpoream 
naturam, v. 20, is one part, latrare. See Lex., s. v. II, B, 1. utqui. 
The qui is an affirmative particle attached enclitically to ut, and has the 
same force as in atqui. Except in that word, this qui soon became obso- 
lete. Journ. of Phiiol. I and Fleckeisen Krit. Miscell. quoted by Mo. 

21. quae . . . dolorem, epexegetical of pauca: i.e. few things, such 
and such only as } etc. — 22. uti, concessive, although, sub in subster- 
nere perhaps means a successive or continued supply. Otherwise the 
compound = the simple verb. The subject of possint is a pronoun under- 
stood referring to simulacra, domus, tecta in vs. 24, 27, 28. — 23. ne- 
que, here = non, as often in archaic and sometimes in classical Latin. — 
27. auro may refer to walls, furniture, and plate. — 28. citharae, dative. 

— 29. cum refers to natura requirit, v. 23 ; tamen to si non, etc., 
v. 24: i.e. nature wants no more, when they thus enjoy themselves none 
the less, although, etc. — 35. textilibus picturis, i.e. embroidered work. 

— 36. iacteris, passive with reflexive force. 

39. quod superest. See I, 18, note. — 40. si non = nisi and intro- 
duces effugiunt, v. 45. campi, sc. Martii. — 41. fervere, swarm forth, 
applied here to the persons and things causing the crowd and bustle, belli 
simulacra, the mimicry of war, sham fights. — 42. ecum. The con- 
currence of u and u in the older language was avoided by writing equs or 
ecus. Roby. — 43. statuas,j0w draw tip in position. — 44. religiones = 
vana superstitio. Cf. I, 31, and note. — 49. re. See Lex., s. v. II, A. — 
53. purpureai. This archaism is avoided by L. in adjectives, except 



1 82 Notes. [book in. 

here and in III, 689, and IV, 537. — 54. omni' = omnino, wholly, haec 
potestas, i.e. of conquering religion and the fear of death. — 55. labo- 
ret, is a struggle, occurs ten times in this sense. — 59. fingunt, imagine. 
— 60-62. Cf. I, 70-72. 



BOOK III. 

1-30. Address to Epicurus, as his father and guide, who had dispelled 
the darkness of error, explained the whole nature of things, revealed the 
gods and their blest abodes, and destroyed the belief in Acheron. 

5. cupidus = quod cupis and answers to quod aveo. — 9. patria, 
said with reference to pater, like a father. — 10. tuisque ex . . . chartis. 
L. has many instances of this order ; adjective, preposition, and then a 
word intervening between it and the substantive. — 17. discedunt, here 
in its primary sense, geri = fieri, administrari. Lamb.; sc. a natura 
rerum. — 18. sedesque quietae, the fieraKocr/xLa which Cicero renders 
intermundia. That Epicurus and L. believed in them is certain, but how 
they are consistent with their general system is as difficult to comprehend 
as the rest of their firm belief in gods. — 19. "when falls not hail or 
rain or any snow, nor ever wind blows loudly." — 25. nusquam appar- 
ent, sc. because he has proved them not to exist. Cf. Apparet, v. 18. 
templa. See II, 8, note. — 26. nee tellus, etc., i.e. it is not the earth 
that hides them, as his philosophy shows what is below the earth as clearly 
as what is above it. — 30. manifesta is in apposition with and explains 
patens. 

32. habetur, here ■= intelligitur. — 37. in dubio, etc., i.e. oi?ines 
humani in dubio fuere utr. ad regna sibi cadendum. utrorum, sc. Poe- 
norum aut Romanorum. — 38. humanis '= homini bus. For the con- 
struction see A. 232; G. 353; H. 388. — 40. uniter apti, formed into 
one bei?ig, antithetic to discidium, and expressive of that organic union 
of body and sonl which gives a man his personal identity. The phrase 
occurs in v. 47, and in several places in Book V. — 43. A proverbial 
expression. — 44. si iam, when thus used, means : granting for the mo- 
ment something for the sake of argument, yet that which is affirmed will 
still follow, or that which is denied will still not follow. The subject of 
sentit is a pronoun understood referring to the subject of the subordinate 
clause, postquam . . . potestas. — 51. factum, sc. esse. — 52. repetentia 
nostri, the remembrance of ourselves, denotes that continued conscious- 
ness of personal identity, which is broken only by death. Lachmann pre- 
fers the reading retinentia. — 53. nobis, sc. ipsis, ourselves, ante . • • 



book in.] Lucretius. 183 

fuimus = qui antea exstitimus. — 54. illis, i.e. the beings fashioned of 
the particles of matter of which we are now composed. — 56. motus . . • 
sint = quam varii sint motus atomorum. — 60. repraehendere = 
repetere. — 61. inter . . . iecta, tmesis, interposed. — 62. deerrarunt 
motus, etc., sc. because deerrartmt primordia, se7isiferj,mde oritur 
primum per viscera motus. Cf. v. (272) and 100, et seq. (923, 924). 
sensibus, the se?isatio7is, which had been caused by them. — 63. misere 
futurumst. See H. 360, note 2; M. 209, b, Obs. 2. — 65. probet, for 
prohibet, on account of the metre. — 68. neque . . . differre, nor does 
it make any difference. 

71-73. Cf. Gray's Elegy: 

" For them no more the blazing hearth shall burn 
Or busy housewife ply her evening care ; 
No children run to lisp their sire's return, 
Or climb his knees the envied kiss to share." 

— 71. lam iam, Now no more ; repeated for emphasis. — 74. factis 
florentibus, prosperous in thy doings ; adiume?ito tibi. Delph. — 77. ad- 
dunt. See v. 86, note. — 78. super = insuper, as in several other pas- 
sages. — 79. sequantur, sc. the thought of it. — 81. aevi, sc. per id; 
partitive genitive. — 8^. cinefactum, turned to ashes. See Lex., s. v. 
prope, near by ; adverb, busto, funeral-pile. — 85. maerorem, seems 
to have the force of dolorem. See D., s. v. — 86. hoc, sc. the person 
representing those, whose sentiment is expressed in vs. 71-76 and 81-85; 
probably the son or other near relative is singled out. — 87. ad . . . redit, 
i.e. if death is the end of man. 

89. Hoc faciunt, ut dicant. M. 481, b. — 90. saepe = ut saepe fit. 
ora, vaguely used by the poets ; here, brows. — 92. f uerit, like the per- 
fect, here, as often, contrasts the past with the present. Cf. Plaut. Capt. 
516 : me fuisse quam esse nimio mavelim. — 95. aliae. This form of 
the genitive occurs only here in L., and is also found once each in Cicero 
and Livy. Roby, I, 373 ; with cuius it = alicuius. — 98. per nos, for all 
we care. — 100. tunc, sc. when we are asleep, ilia primordia, sc. ex 
quibus constamus. — 101. sensiferis, producing sensation, motibus. 
See v. 62 and note. — 104. quam, sc. id. — 105. maior, i.e. than in 
sleep, leto = in morte. 

109. hoc alicui increpet, a common construction in Livy. — 
Iio. tanto opere = tarn magni inomenti. — 112. Nam gratis . . . in- 
terfere, almost equivalent to a conditional clause. The assertion is made 
as a supposition: You have passed, let us say, a happy life; well thejt, 
etc. See A., p. 214; 310, c ; H. 507, 1. gratis, in accordance with thy 
will, agreeably ; ingrata, v. 114 is in contrast with it. — 115. vitae. A. 



184 Notes. [book in. 

218, a; G. 3J3; H. 399, 3. — 117. profusa, squandered. — 118. in 
oflensnst, is in disfavor. — 122. eadem . . . semper. Cf. Ecclesiastes, 
1, 9. — 125. vincere, to outlast. — 127. intendere litem, a legal phrase, 
the i?itentio being the plaintiff's claim for damages. See Ry., p. 280. But 
here probably it means only, brings an accusation against. — 131. incla- 
met, sc. natura. — 132. abhine, here of the future; a very rare use. — 
133. perfunctus, having enjoyed. For the construction of praemia see 
A. 249, b; G. 405, Rem. 1 ; H. 421, note 4. — 138. aliena, unsuited to. 
aetate. See A. 247, d; G. 356, Rem. 5 ; H. 391, II, 3. — 139. humanis. 
The reading is doubtful. Lachm. prefers dignis, Bern, gnatis, and Mo. in 
his last ed., magnus. — 143. nee quisquani, etc., sc, but the matter of 
which he was composed is used for the growth of other things. — 
146. ante, the adverb. These very things which now flourish by your 
decay have in other combinations fallen themselves as you now fall, and in 
future combinations will fall again. Mo. — 147. alid for aliud, found 
only in L. Roby, I, 373. — 148. mancipio, i.e. full aizd absolute owner- 
ship. See Lex., s. v. II, A. 2. usu, for usu . . . fructu, with poetic brev- 
ity. For the technical meaning of the term see Ry., p. 258. Nature keeps 
the dominiinn to herself. Life is only lent. Mo. — 154. securius, more 
tmtroubled. 

160. casum, Observe the play on the literal and figurative meaning. 
— 163. perpetuam aetatem, through eternity, accusative of duration. — 
169. nobis, ethical dative; a construction frequent in L. iacentem. 
Cf. I, 30 and note. — 170. anxius angor, may mean an abiding anguish 
or may be only one of L.'s many poetical pleonasms and assonances ; others 
of which are penitus penetrari,fera ferri, apparet aperte, domi domitos, 
semine seminioque, fera saecla feraraum, misero misere. Nee validas vale- 
ant. Mo. — 177. adA^erso monte, up the mountain, ablative absolute. — 
178. rusum, for rursum. This suppression of r after a long vowel before 
s is quite common in L. — 185. hoc represents or repeats the infinitives 
pascere, explere, and satiare. The subject when separated from its 
predicate by an intervening clause (especially a relative clause) is some- 
times emphatically recalled to mind by the demonstrative is, or hie, where 
an antithesis is to be made very prominent. M.489, a. — 187. potestur is 
present passive ; a common form in old writers, but only used when fol- 
lowed by the infinitive passive. Roby, I, 725. After v. 188, Mo. supposes 
several lines to have been lost, in which mention may have been made of 
Cocytus, Acheron, Minos, etc. Cf. Cic. Tusc. Disp. I, 10: Die, quaeso : 
Num te ilia terrent, triceps a pud inferos Cerbertis, Cocyti fremitus, trans- 
vectio Acherontis, fortasse etiam inexorabiles indices, Minos et Rhada- 
manthus ? — 192. insignis, signal, luella. The / is doubled after the 



book in.] Lucretius, 185 

long vowel when a short one precedes it. But tutela, etc., when a long 
vowel precedes the long vowel. Lachm. — 194. robur, literally, the lower 
part of the Tullianum, reserved for condemned criminals ; often used as 
here in a general sense, lammina, a plate of iron heated as an instru- 
ment of torture. — 195. sibi factis. The double dative with conscia is 
not common, though each alone is often used with it. M. 289, b, Obs. 2. 

— 200. Cf. Milton's well known lines : 

" The mind is its own place, and in itself 
Can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven." — 'Par. Lost, Book I. 

202. sis, for suis. — 203. improbe, i?7imoderate in expectation. — 
204. rerum. See II, 13, note. — 206. ille, sc. Xerxes. — 208. lucunas, 
for the more common lacunas. — 211. Scipiadas. This ending is estab- 
lished by the Mss. here and by those of Lucilius, Virgil, and Horace. See I, 
15, note. — 213. leporum, the fine arts. — 215. sceptra. For the con- 
struction see II, 13, note, aliis = ceteris; a dative. See A. 234, a; G. 
356, Rem. 6; H. 391, 4, note 1. — 217. inemores motus, i.e. which 
would produce memory, and thereby the power of thought. Mo. — 
219. decurso . . . vitae, a mixture of metaphors. Lamb.; or it may have 
reference to the course of the sun. Mo. — 225. vigilans stertis, a pro- 
verbial expression. Cf. Plaut. Capt. 848 : vigilans somniat. — 226. geris 
= hades, a meaning common in the best writers. — 228. ebrius, here 
probably, having the mind disordered and stupefied, or reeling like a 
drunkard under the load of trouble. — 235. quisque, expressed in the 
subordinate clause, as usually, instead of quemque with nescire. See M. 
495. — 238. revertit. This active form in the present tense is an archai- 
ism and rare. It is found elsewhere only in V, 321 (1153). See Lex., s.v. 

— 239. nilo melius, no better off. sentiat. A. 320, <?; G. 636; H. 517. 
245. Notice the antithesis between fugit and effugere (246), to es- 
cape, ingratis. See III, 112, note. — 248. rebus relictis, sc. ceteris. — 
251. ambigitur = in controversia est. — 252. manenda, to be awaited. 

— 256. pote, sc. est. — 257. ibidem, in the same pursuits. See Lex., s. v. 
II, B. — 258. procuditur, is forged, produced. — 261. tenet, sc. nos. 
biantis, as we gape for it, open-mouthed, keeps up the metaphor of sitis. 

— 264. Nee prorsum = et prorstim non; omnino non. — 266. perempti 
= in the state of death. — 267. condere, may have the idea of closing, and 
completing, but perhaps merely = conficere. — 268. mors aeterna. Cf. 
v. 70, mors i??imortalis. — 269. non erit, will be non-existent. — 270. 
et, than. See M. 444, b. — 271. mensibus atque annis. See A. 257, b; 
G. 400, 3 ; H. 430. 

" The poetry and pathos and earnest satire of the last two hundred and sixty 
lines of this Book are of a very high order." — MUNRO. 



1 86 Notes. [book v. 



BOOK V. 

1-24. Praises of the genius and services of Epicurus. 

1. L. omits the substantive verb with pote, but not with potis. — 
2. condere is the technical word even in prose. See Lex. — 3. valet 
. . . tantum = is so eloquent. — 5. parta and quaesita are here syn- 
onymous, praemia. See Lex., s. v. II, A. — 7. maiestas cognita, the 
acknoivledged grandeur. — 12. tranquillo, substantive, the proper term 
for a calm, and often used metaphorically as here. 

13. Quae proelia . . . insinuandum. The impersonal form of the 
gerundive with an accusative following, though very unusual in good prose 
writers, is sometimes found in the earliest writers. See M. 421, Obs. 2, b. 
L. has at least a dozen instances of this construction. — 14. ingratis. 
See III, 112, note. — 17. spur eitia,_y£ Ithy lust ; or perhaps sordid avarice. 

— 18. clades, calamities. — 21. dignarier, passive according to the 
usage of Cicero and the older writers. The infinitive after it is unusual. 

25. Cuius, sc. Epicurus, rationes, doctrine, system. — 27. foe- 
dere, law. See Lex., s. v. II, B. — 28. nee valeant, i.e. quamque non 
vale ant. aevi = temp or is. — 29. animi . . . reperta est, sc. in Book 
III. — 30. nativo, created, consistere, to exist, creta, fashioned of. 

— 32. sed, sc. repertum est. simulacra, the idols, or images, which, like 
small films, constantly proceed from the surfaces of all bodies and float in 
the air ; of which he treats in Book IV. — 33. cum, with the present 
subjunctive videamur seems to denote repetition, as cum seems clearly 
to be temporal in its force ; as in II, 736 ; V, 680. — 34. quod super- 
est, introduces the apodosis of the sentence beginning at v. 25. See I, 
18, note, rationis = mater iae. In vs. 35-51, mention is made of most 
of the topics treated of in this Book, though not all in the order of their 
treatment. — 39. animantes, living beings, is feminine ; in the plural it 
is also found in the neuter (animantid) ; signifying rational beings, it is 
masculine. M. 41, Obs. — 40. Quae . . . natae, sc. such as the fabled 
centaurs, chimeras, etc. Cf. v. 878, et seqq. — 41. Quove. See I, 25, 
note. — 42. vesci = frui. See Lex., s. v. II. — 43, insinuarit, a very 
favorite word with L. with many constructions: either active with one 
accusative (v. 14), or with two accusatives, one the object, the other gov- 
erned by the in, as I, 116; or neuter with an accusative governed by the 
in, or governed by per ; often too, passive, once (IV, 1030) followed by 
an accusative, elsewhere by a dative, as I, 113, or a preposition,/^ or in. 
— 45. lacus, such as the Ampsancti valles, the lake of Nemi, the 'specu- 
lum Dianae' of Aricia. Cf. Cic. Verr.V, 188: sanctissimae deae, quae 



book v.] Lucretius. 187 

illos Hennenses lacus lucosque incolitis. This single, long, loose, ill- 
assorted, ill-constructed sentence furnishes one of the proofs that the author 
Jeft his work in an unfinished state. Mo. — 47. flectat . . . gubernans. 
Cf. v. 107 : flectat for tuna gubernans, which comes to the same thing, as 
the Epicurean nature is at one and the same time blind chance and inex- 
orable necessity. Mo. — 55. supera, the original form of the preposition, 
an ablative singular, feminine, and often found in L. Roby, I, 509. — 
59. Cf. I. 44. — 66. moles et niachina, is not only a vast mass, but a 
mass of complex and elaborate construction formed by nature. Mo. 

67. Illud item, etc. Cf. Ill, 18-24, an d notes. — 70. aninii mente, 
the thought of the mind, a phrase occurring also in III, 615; IV, 758; 
VI, 1 183; Plaut. Cist. II, 1, 6; Catull. LXV, 4. — 75. de = secundtun, 
or de exemplo, after the i?iodel of in confor??iity with. Cf. Plaut. Menaechm. 
266: lam abs te metuo de verbis tuis ; Asin. 210: meo de studio studia 
erunt vestra omnia. — 77. Dicere, putare, adfingere, and addere 
are the subjects of desiperest, v. 86. — 82. perpetuo aevo, ablative 
governed by fundatum, founded on, i.e. which is to exist for ever- 
lasting ; though it may mean from everlasting ; ab aeterno tempore. 
Delph. — 83. sollicitare, i.e. e loco suo movere, aut labefactare. Delph. 

— 84. vexare, to assail, ab imo . . . summa = tota ab imo usque ad 
summa evertere. Cf. Hor. Sat. II, 3, 308 : ab imo ad summum totus, etc. 

— 89. tanto post, so long afterward. 

91. Ille, emphatic. — 94-106. This passage, which is the preface to 
one of the grandest parts of the poem, is itself ill-constructed and patched 
up from various sources, showing once more that the poem was left by its 
author in an unfinished state, and that he had carefully worked up some 
portions, though he had not yet properly connected them with the rest of 
the poem. Mo. — 94. primordia rerum. See I, 23, note. — 98. pla- 
gis ponderibusque, by the joint action of which, as so fully shown in 
Book II, the first beginnings are able to come into collision and union. — 
Mo. — 102. volgata, spread abroad. 

107. Hie, At this time. See Lex., s. v. II. v. 564 : solis maior rota 
shows that rota = orbis. — 108. mundi = caeli, as often. — in. nova 
tempestas, a strange storm : confusio quaeda?7i caeca atomorum. Delph. 
moles. Cf. Ovid, Met. I, 5 : rudis indigestaque moles. — 112. omne ge- 
nus. So Lachm. and Mo. ; in apposition with moles. Another reading 
is omnigenis e. — 114. turbabat, threw into disorder. — 118. inde, 
sometimes alone, and here and in two other places with the partitive geni- 
tive loci, denotes time, after that. Holtze. — 119. discludere mundum, 
explained by the next four lines, which are a paraphrase of the words ; 
= mundi partes separatim locare. Mo. — 123. seorsus. L. writes 



1 88 Notes. [book v. 

indifferently sorsum, seorsuzn, seorszis, and sorsus when they are equally 
dissyllables ; seorsu7?i is sometimes, too, a trisyllable. See Roby, I, 232. 

126. medio, the cezttre of the universe. — 129. magiii . . . inundi, 
i.e. the ether. — 133. erumpens, etc. Cf. Milton's imitation, Par. Lost, 
III, 716: And this ethereal quintessence of heaven flew upward, etc. — 
140. in alto, 071 high. — 141. corpore concreto, with a now cohering 
body, designates that which has taken a consistence however fine, as these 
mists, and still more the light ether. Cf. VI, 482; Virg. Aen. Ill, 582. 
subtexunt. See Lex., s. v. — 143. circumdatus . . . flexit, swept 
rouzzd a7id arched itself 071 all sides. Cf. I, 55. — 145. Cf. Milton, Par. 
Lost, III, 721 : The rest (of the ethereal quintessence) in circuit walls this 
universe ; and VII, 264 : expanse of liquid, pure, Transparent, elemental air, 
diffused In circuit to the uttermost convex Of this great round; Cic. De 
Nat. Deor. II, 101 : ultizizus et a domicilii* nostris altzssz77zus 07nnia cin- 
gens et coercens caeli co77iplexus, qui ide77i aether vocatur, extre77ia ora et 
deter77ii7iatio mznidi. — 147. interutraque. So Lachm.; sc. between 
the aether and the earth. Delph. in auris = in aeris regio7zibus. — 
148. quae, sc. exordia solis hmaeque. — 150. per . . . oras, glide along 
the upper -most borders. — 152. versent, wheel alozig. 

153-163 seem to depict some pantomimic representation of the four 
seasons. Mo. — 153. It = Progreditzzr. Veneris: Lachm. reads veris, 
and in the next line zephyrus. — praenuntius pennatus, i.e. Cupido. — 
155. quibus, sc. Spring, Venus, and Cupid; i.e. Flora follows on the steps 
of Zephyr, and in advance of these. Cf. I, 7 and II. viai cuncta == vias 
cunctas. — 157. Inde loci. See v. 118, note. — 162. bruma, here 
perhaps, in its proper sense of the shortest day, 77zid-zvinter. — 163. pro- 
dit . . . algor. So Lachm. Mo. reads reddit . . . algu. 

165. quicquid = quicque, as often in L. resolvi, / have disclosed, 
laid ope7i, a rare use of the word. See Lex., s. v. II, A. — 168. offecto. 
Ofljicere furnishes the only instance in L. where a verb which governs a 
dative in the active voice has a personal passive. See II, 156; IV, 763, 
and Lex., s. v. I. The license is altogether rare. Horace uses in this way 
izzzperor and invideor, Virgil creditus, Ovid credor and dubitor, Tacitus 
credebatur, and the auctor ad Herezzzz., persuasus est. Mo. See A. 230; 
G. 345; Rem. 3; H. 384, 5. — 169. neque opinantis, very rare for 
nee opi7ia7itis. — 1 71. convisunt, survey, keeps up the metaphor of 
conivent and aperto lumine. — 172. nunc redeo, etc., sc. from which 
he had digressed after v. 501. novitatem = res zzovas, the izzfazzcy. — 
174. crerint, somewhat archaic for decrerizzl. Yet cf. Catull. LXIV, 
150; Virg. Aen. XI, 560. 

179. magnum certamen, a stro7zg azzd eztzzilozis desire, inniissis 



book v.] Lucretius. i8g 

habenis, i.e. with full unbridled powers. — 182. The force of primum 
seems to be that the earth as soon as formed began to put forth its hairs or 
feathers, herbage or plants, before it yielded any other production. Mo. 
183. mortalia saecla = ani??ialia, every living thing. 

186. quod, the relative = quippe quod. — 188. viscera, the inward 
parts. — 190. labi for labe, i.e. morbo. — 191. volventia= quae volvun- 
tur. solis lustra, i.e. annuos solis cursus. Delph. — 194. scibat. For 
the form see A. 128, e 9 I ; H. 240, 1. — 206. decursus aquai, a favorite 
phrase with L., occurring four times. — 207. claru' citat, summons with 
clear flash ; a very graphic expression. The clear rills tumbling down 
from the high hills in those climates are audible from a great distance. Mo. 

— 208. silvestria templa nympharuni must be such a rocky haunt as 
he describes in IV, 580: 

" haec loca capripedes satyros nymphasque tenere 
finitimi fingunt et faunos esse locuntur 
quorum noctivago strepitu ludoque iocanti 
adfirmant volgo taciturna silentia rumpi 
chordarumque sonos fieri dulcisque querellas, 
tibia quas fundit digitis pulsata canentum." 

templa, like Acherusia teinpla, has here a secondary meaning derived 
from the primary caelestia templa. Cf. II, 8; III, 25. — 210 and 211. 
umida saxa. Notice the fine effect of this repetition, and the alliteration 
of the liquids 1 and r. — 220. cuique. When a relative and demonstrative 
clause are combined, quisque almost always stands in the relative clause ; 
but sometimes, as here, it is repeated. M. 495. 

222. sub signis ducta, i.e. in order, rank and file, ready for battle. 

— 225. temere, by accident, without design; incassum, fortuitously, 
without aim or purpose ; frustra, in vain, with reference to the subject, 

— poetical tautology ; for in their application here these are synonymes. 
Mo. — 228. in fraudem, to his ruin. — 229. caeca iacebat, lay still 
concealed, i.e. was as yet unknown. — 230. ipsi, adds emphasis, and de- 
notes in the stead of, or it may mean to her to whom it least should be given. 
Mo. — 233. vergebant, would pour, nurui, sc. for the sake of her 
money. 

235. concessit, resigned herself, went or passed over to. See Lex., 
s. v. II, B. Munro thinks some such line has fallen out before v. 236, as 
Hospitium, ac lecti socialia iura duobus, and reads cognita sunt instead of 
conubium. — 242. amicitiem. For the form see A. 74, b ; G. 69, 3 ; 
H. 138. Originally most e stems appear to have been either a stems or s 
stems. — 245. balbe here apparently means mere inarticulate cries. — 
246. aecum. ^Tien was changed to u, qu passed into c. Both forms 
were in use from the later part of the republic, till after the middle of the 



190 Notes. [book v. 

first century, A.D., when quo began to give place to quu, the forms with c 
however remaining also. Roby, I, 108; 121. Qu is not a syllable; and 
the u (or v) in this combination is only a parasitic sound, developed by q, 
which is never found without it. Papillon, ch. IV, I; Roby, I, 115, 118. — 
248. bona magnaque, a pleonasm which often occurs in L. — 250. pro- 
pago = propagatio. 

252. utilitas expressit. Nature forced them to utter general sounds; 
experience of their use made them give definite terms to definite things. 
Mo. — 254. infantia, in its primary sense. — 256. vim. For the con- 
struction see III, 133, note, quoad = quatenus. — 264. turn, sc. when 
speech first came into use. — 265. inde, from him. — 270. insita, sc. in 
him. notities utilitatis, the previous conception of their use. notities, 
a simple word in common use, is here a poetical substitute for Epicurus' 
technical term, irpoX^is. Cf. Cic. De Nat. Deor. I, 16, 43: Solus enim 
vidit (Epicurus) pri??ium esse deos, quod in omniu?n animis eorttm notio- 
nem impressisset ipsa natura. Quae est enim gens aut quod genus homi- 
num, quod 11011 habeat sine doctrina anticipationem quandam deor um ? 
quam appellat -xpoXrityiv Epicurus, id est anteceptam animo rei quandam 
informationem, sine qua nee intellegi quicquam nee quaeri nee disputari 
potest ; and 44: hanc nos habere sive anticipationem, ut ante dixi, sive 
praenotionem deorum {sunt enim rebus novis nova ponenda nomina, tit 
Epicurus ipse TtpoXyytyiv appellavit, quam antea nemo eo verbo nominaraf). 
273. victum vitamque. See D., s. vita. — 274. rebu\ See A. 
252, c; G. 404, Rem.; H. 422, note 2. — 279. facie =pulchro corpore, 
v. 284, and means personal appearance generally. See Lex., s. v. I, A. — 
281. res, wealth. — 287. neque . . . penuria parvi, i.e. he is never in 
want who requires but a little. Lex. — 288. claros . . . se, a construction 
not uncommon in Cicero. M. 389, Obs. 4. — 293. tamen, i.e. even if they 
reach it. — 295. vaporant, burn, glow; are blasted; used here in a 
peculiar sense analagous to that in which L. always uses the substantive 
vapor. Mo. — 299. sine, let. See Lex., s. v. II, A. 1. sanguine sudent, 
sweat drops of blood, a fine expression used literally in VI, 1147. Mo. — 
301. sapiunt, gather knowledge ; alieno ex ore, sc. and therefore cannot 
know the true nature of things. — 302. ex auditis, from those things 
which they have heard from others, sensibus, i.e. which they have found 
out by their senses. Delph. 

304. Ergo . . . occisis, sc. because by obtaining supreme power they 
had attracted the lightning of envy and been dashed to the earth. — 
306. summi, sovereign. — 308. metutum, the only instance of this 
participle. Roby, I, p. 250. — 309. res, etc., matters zuere falling into 
utter confusion and disorder. This suits best with turbas, the imper- 



book v.] Lucretius. 191 

feet redibat and the whole context. Mo. Others make res = summa 
res, summa imperii; administrate rerum. redibat here — ibat. — 
311. partim, i.e. ex Us hominibus pariim or aliqui, a use common in the 
best writers. Mo. — 312. iura, legibus, probably here synonymous; but 
in v. 315 tautological; though of course ius has a much wider mean- 
ing than lex. See Ry., p. 241. — 313. colere aevom = vivere. For 
the construction see A. 273, d; G. 429, Rem. 4; H. 533, 3, note 2. — 
315. arta = stricta, stringent. — 318. "vi, sub violentia turbarum. Delph. — 

319. Inde, i.e. Postqtiam conditae sunt leges. Delph. maculat, spoils. — 

320. quemque, sc. who perpetrates the vis and iniuria. — 324. divom, 
probably a mere conventional form of speech, and said with reference 
to the offender's thoughts. Mo. — 326. quippe ubi, occurs in three other 
passages in L., in two of them with the indicative. Holtze. — 327. pro- 
traxe. A. 128, a; G. 151, 1 ; H. 235. The abundance of such forms in 
Plautus and Terence shows that they belonged to the language of common 
life. Mo. 

329. deum numina, i.e. opinionem deortim. Lamb ; the worship of 
the divinities of the gods. Mo. — 330. ararum. For the construction see 
A. 248, c, Rem.; G. 373, Rem. 5; H. 410, V, 1. — 331. sollemnia, 
stated. — 332. rebu% occasions, e.g. those which pertain to war or peace, 
where great vow r s are made. Delph. — 334. suscitat, builds, erects. See 
Lex., s. v. IT, A. — 335. celebrare, resort to in great numbers. — 
339. auctu, size. L. means to say that all the sensible impressions of the 
form, size, and beauty of the gods are true, even that of their immortality ; 
and that only the mental inferences (as e.g. of their power and provi- 
dence) added to these impressions are false. Mo. — 341. superbas, 
lofty. See Lex., s. v. B. II. — 344. subpeditabatur, would appear be- 
fore them ; exhibebatur idem. Delph. forma inanebat = species eadem 
erat Us. Delph. — 345. et tameu, and yet without all this, i.e. putting all 
the previous considerations aside. Mo. — 346. convinci, be overcome, — 
the only instance in L. where it is used for vincere. — 348. Notice the 
change of mood from vexaret to videbant. See A. 321, a; G. 540 and 
541; H. 516, II, and foot-note 2. — 351. rationes, system. Mo.; ratos 
viotus. Delph. — 355. tradere and facere, here = to suppose, are con- 
structed as substantives in the accusative. — 356. templa. See v. 208 
(948), note. — 358. severa, an epithet which seems to belong to the 
notion of night, and to be the opposite of what is gay and smiling. Mo. 
The signa are so called, vel quia tristia, vel quia sacra. Delph. Cf. IV, 
460: severa silentia noctis. — 361. fremitus, rumblings, murmura, 
thunder claps. 

366, velatum refers to the Roman custom of praying velato capite. 



192 Notes, [book v. 

"The prayer of the Greek was contemplation, for he raised his eyes to 
heaven. The prayer of the Roman was reflection; he veiled his head." — 
MOMM., Hist, of Rome. 

367. vertier, etc., also refers to a custom of Roman worship. The sup- 
pliant approached with the statue on his right ; after praying he wheeled 
to the right, so as to front it, and then sank upon his knees or pros- 
trated himself to the earth. Ry., p. 339. — 370. vota, here votivae tabu- 
lae, hung on the wall of the temple or elsewhere. — 371. mage, for 
magis and = potius. — 372. Nam, etc., i.e. " It is true piety not to 
perform these ceremonies, but to have a mind at ease; for" etc. IVJo. 
— y]^. fixum, i.e. fast in its place and abiding. — 374. solis lunae- 
que. See A. 219; G. 375, Rem. 3 ; H. 406, III, note. — 375. in pec- 
tora caput erigere, i.e. assurgere et invadere pectora. — 377. nobis, 
ethical dative. See III, 169, note. — 379. Temptat, disquiets, rationis 
egestas = rerum ignorantia. Delph. — 380. genitalis origo, birth 
time. — 382. solliciti, restless, unceasing ; the literal meaning and rare. 
Cf. I, 343; VI, 1038. laborem, strain. — 383. salute, preservation. — 
384. tractu, period, duratio7i. See Lex., s. v. II, A. 2. — 387. corre- 
punt, creep together, shrink ; like a worm or other reptile drawing itself 
together. Mo. — 390. populi, states, political organizations of civilized 
peoples. — 391. corripiunt = contrahunt, but is stronger; its object is 
membra. — 393. poenarum solvendi, a construction found in Plautus, 
Terence, and even Cicero. See A. 298, a ; G. 429, Rem. 1 ; H. 542, 1, 
note 1 ; M. 413, Obs. 2. — 397. pacem, favor, in v. 398, calms. See 
Lex., s. v. II, 1. adit. See Lex., s. v. I, B. 1. — 399. saepe means ia 
quod saepe fieri vide?7ius ; i.e. since in every case a man perishes none 
the less for all his prayers, as we see by many examples. Mo. — 400. vada 
seems to be used at once in a literal and metaphorical sense. Mo. — 
401. Usque adeo = adeo verum est. Delph.; so incessantly or to such a 
degree continually . vis . . . quaedam, the, secret power and working of 
nature ; the effect of which in particular cases no man can foretell, how- 
ever unvarying and inexorable her laws. As far as form and expression 
are concerned there is a struggle between the poet's imagination and the 
. philosopher's creed. L. is here speaking of course generally ; but it is not 
unlikely that his fancy may have been caught by reading of some striking 
disaster of this land, such as that of M. Claud. Marcellus just before the 
third Punic war. Mo. — 405. dubiae, in its literal sense, swaying, mi- 
nantur, threaten to fall. See Lex., s. v. II, A. 2. — 406. se temnunt 
= sibi diffdunt. Delph.; abase. — 407. relinqunt = concedunt. Delph. ; 
admit, hold, believe, a sense frequent in L., with or without an infinitive. 
Mo. Cf. I, 742. — 408. in rebus, in things here on earth. 



book v.] Lucretius. 193 

412. pullorum, sprouts, yotmg twigs. — 413. stirpis, grafts, slips, 
— 416. mansuescere, here transitive, with terram for its subject. — ■ 
417. indulgendo, through their fostering. — 418. succedere, ascend, 
retreat up the mountain. — 422. distinguens, marking the divisions. 
Mo. inter . . . currere, tmesis; run between. — 423. profusa, spread 
out. — 424. distincta, decorated, adorned. — 426. arbustis has here 
its usual meaning of plantations of trees. This form is not found elsewhere 
in the poem, though L. always uses arbusta in both nom. and accus. for 
arbores, which cannot come into hexameter verse, opsita circum and 
intersita are here, of course, set in contrast. Mo. 

429. concelebrare. See Lex., s. v. I, c. and Bk. I, 4, note. The sense 
of often practising or resorting to a thing readily comes from its primary 
sense. Mo. — 432. querellas, plaintive tones. — 433. pulsata, played 
upon, used of musical instruments generally. — 434. nemora and silvas 
are often found without distinction of meaning ; but often, too, are used 
together as here, and then correctly defined by Servius : nemus, composita 
multitudo arbormn ; silva, diffusa et inculta. The silvae ran up to and 
covered much of the magni monies of Southern Italy. The saltus are 
the lawns and long defiles sweeping down from the hills to the low valleys 
and plains. Mo. reperta = quae inventa fuit. Delph. — 435. deserta, 
unfrequented, dia = divina, dulcia. Delph. Mo. translates it with 
otia, unearthly calm, yet thinks it difficult to determine its meaning here, 
and adds : " Does it denote that strange preternatural silence and repose, 
which you find in passing on a fine day over the higher table-lands of 
Arcadia, so eminently now as always loca pastorum deserta?'''' See I, II 
(21), note. — 437. satiate, commonly used only in the nominative, satias. 
See Lex., s. v. nam turn, i.e. for then, and not till then, have they leisure 
to think of mental pleasures. Mo. — 440. iucunde habebant = bene 
curabant. Cf. II, 31. — 445. plexis. Cf. Catull. XIII (64), 283. — 
446. lascivia monebat, sportive7iess pro??ipted. — 447. extra nume- 
rum, out of measure. — 448. duriter, awkwardly. — 451. somni, sc. 
negati. — 453. supera. See V, 55, note. — 454. vigiles, official watch- 
men, whether of the camp or the town. Mo. haec tuentur, observe these 
customs. — 455. recens. Other readings are genus and sonis. — 459. 
pollere, to be of great worth. — 460. Of three possible constructions, Mo. 
prefers posterior res melior reperta perdit (i.e. spoils the taste for) ilia, 
sc. priora. — 461. ad, with reference to. 

465. omnino quoad, precisely how far, beyond which it becomes 
excess. — 466. provexit, a technical expression for carrying a ship out 
to sea. Mo. — 469. lustrantes, traversing. — 471. ratione, plan. — 
477. elementa, letters. Cf. I, 196: 



194 Notes. [book v. 

" ut potius multis communia corpora rebus 
multa putes esse, ut verbis elementa videmus." 

— 479. nisi . . . monstrat, save where reason points out any traces. Mo. 

— 482. praemia = co77i?noda. Cf. Ill, 133 (956). — 483. daedala. 
See I, 7, note, signa, statues. — 488. alid. For the form see A. 83, 
foot-note 1; H. 151, foot-note 3; Roby, I, 373. ordine, in due order, 
shows in what way one thing after another is to come into the light; 
= paulatim in v. 486. Mo. — 489. artibus, in the different arts. Mo. 
summum cacumen, the height of pei'fection. venere, sc. artes. 

" More than half of this Book, namely, 416-508, and from 771 to the end, 
are in Lucretius' noblest manner. Nothing in Latin poetry surpasses, if it even 
equals, these verses, in grandeur, sublimity, and varied beauty ; occasionally, 
too, some fine touches of earnest satire are met with." — MUNK.O. 



NOTES TO TIBULLUS. 



INTRODUCTION. 

ACCORDING to the best authorities the life of Albius Tibullus 
extended from 54 B.C. to 19 B.C., the year of Virgil's death. 
He was of the equestrian order, but of his youth and education 
nothing is known. 

The large estate at Pedum in Latium, between Praeneste and 
Tibur, which he inherited, was confiscated in the civil wars, but he 
retained or recovered a part of it, probably through the intervention 
of M. Valerius Messala, the eminent general and statesman, on 
whose staff he afterwards served in an expedition into Aquitania, 
B.C. 31, 30; and on this ancestral farm he spent the remainder of 
his life. 

In the exercise of his poetic gifts Tibullus was a brilliant mem- 
ber of the literary circle of which Messala, himself distinguished as 
an author and orator, was the centre, and shared the patronage of 
that illustrious man with Horace, whose friendship and appreciation 
of Tibullus 1 poetic genius found expression in one of his epistles 
(I, 4), and Ovid, one of whose elegies (Amores, III, 9) is a beautiful 
tribute to the memory of his predecessor in elegiac writing. 

The sincerity and strength of Tibullus' attachment to his patron 
are attested by some of his finest poems, in which Messala's victories 
are celebrated. But with this exception he, among all the promi- 
nent literary men of that age, maintained a singular independence 
of character in relation to the court of Augustus. The historian 
Merivale remarks that ' ' throughout his works there is no mention 
made either of the emperor or of his ministers and associates," that 
" he alone of the great poets of his day remained undazzled by the 
glitter of the Caesarian usurpation; and traces "the tone of tender 
melancholy which pervades his elegies" to the fact that " he was 
pining away in unavailing despondency in beholding the subjugation 
of his country." 



196 Notes. 

The four authors who cultivated elegiac poetry in the Augustan 
age are thus grouped together by Ovid (Trist. IV, 10) : 

" nee amara Tibullo 
Tempus amicitiae fata dedere meae. 
Successor fuit hie tibi, Galle ; Propertius illi ; 
Quartus ab his serie temporis ipse fui." 

Respecting these writers and the relative excellence of Roman 
elegy the criticism of Ouintilian is as follows : ' ' Elegia quoque 
Graecos provocamus, cuius mihi tersus atque elegans maxime vide- 
tur auctor Tibullus. Sunt qui Propertium malint. Ovidius utroque 
lascivior, sicut durior Gallus." X, 1, 93. 

Of the four Books of elegies which bear the name of Tibullus, the 
third is generally believed to be the work of some younger contem- 
porary and imitator, who also belonged to the circle of Messala. 
The genuineness of the first poem in Book fourth, the panegyric on 
Messala, has also been denied. Milman thinks it cannot be ascribed 
to a writer of the exquisite taste of Tibullus, and Cruttwell takes the 
same view. But Teuffel regards it as "representing the poet's 
Alexandrine period, and as attesting a certain talent but unripe 
taste." The authorship of the thirteen remaining pieces of that 
Book — elegidia ascribed to the lovers Cerinthus and Sulpicia — has 
been also a matter of dispute. Cranstoun ascribes poems 7-12 
inclusive, to Sulpicia — supposed to have been a poetess of the circle 
of Messala — and the rest to Tibullus. Teuffel seems to agree with 
him. Pinder's judgment is that " the smaller elegies of the fourth 
Book, if not by Tibullus, have many of the characteristics of his 
genius," and Milman's, that " they have all the inimitable grace and 
simplicity of this poet." Cruttwell thinks " that the finished elegance 
and purity of diction of these pieces are easily reconciled with the 
view that they are the work of Tibullus; at the same time the 
description of Sulpicia as a poetess (in vi, 2 ; vii, 3) seems to 
point to her as the authoress of the pieces that bear her name. 
And the materials for coming to a decision are so scanty that it 
seems best to leave the authorship an open question." 

The elegies of Tibullus have been divided into Amatory, Rural, 
Devotional 1 and Panegyrical, but many of them partake of all these 
qualities, and few of them belong strictly to either of these classes 
alone. While in variety of subjects and vigor of thought he was 
inferior to both his rivals (the works of Gallus are not extant), he , 



Tibullus. 197 

was free from any pedantic display of learning ; he surpassed in the 
expression of patriotic and religious sentiments, in appreciation of 
natural scenery and country life and in sympathy with those in mis- 
fortune, and excelled both his rivals in purity of taste, and in a 
style unstudied, simple, graceful, the natural expression of genuine 
and strong feeling. 

" Tibullus is preeminently Roman in his genius and poetry. His disregard 
for foreign models, his genuine love for country scenery and domestic life, his 
dignified independence of position and tone, the simplicity of his tastes and 
pursuits, and his faith in the national divinities, distinguish him from all his 
contemporaries, and most of his successors. He is the natural poet of warm, 
tender, and simple feeling. Neither Greek mythology nor Alexandrine learning 
had any attractions for his purely Italian genius. His language may be limited 
in range and variety; but it is terse, clear, simple, and popular. His con- 
structions are plain and direct. 

" While in point of natural ability, in learning, force, and variety, Tibullus is 
far inferior to Catullus, yet in purity of taste, in the exquisite smoothness of his 
lines, and his compact management of the elegiac system, Tibullus made a 
great advance, in versification, at least, on his predecessor. In short, his excel- 
lence lay mainly in this, that he was the first to clothe in the foreign dress of 
the elegiac metre, a body of purely Roman sentiment, imagery, and ideas." — 

PlXDER. 

" Tibullus cannot, it is true, soar into the blue heaven and gaze upon the 
sun in his meridian splendor, like that eagle of the Alps, ' the young Catullus ' ; 
he has not the vast learning, nervous vigor, and sparkling brilliancy of Proper- 
tius;. nor the exquisite pathos, richness of imagery, and intensely sensuous 
feeling of the many-minded Ovid; but he evinces throughout a simplicity, a 
naturalness, a tenderness, and a terseness peculiarly his own ; and herein lies 
his charm. 

" His love of home and friends, his enjoyment of the country, of hills and 
dales, of shepherds and sheepfolds, of smiling meadows and murmuring rivulets, 
of purple vineyards and yellow corn-fields, and of the innocence and simplicity 
of earlier days, combined with that tender melancholy that ever, cloud-like, 
threw a shadow o'er his brow, gives him an almost romantic interest in the eyes 
of the modern reader ; and wiil always secure for him, with lovers of rural 
scenes, one of the most enviable positions among the sons of ancient song." — 
Cranstoun. 



198 Notes. 



Occasioned by the invitation of his friend, Messala, to accom- 
pany him in the campaign which ended with the battle of Actium, 
B.C. 31. 

The pleasures of the peaceful avocations of country-life, in con- 
trast with the hardships and perils of military service. 

1. congerat. Subjunctive of exhortation, on which depends auro, 
spoils obtained in war. — 2. soli, confiscated land allotted to veterans, 
made valuable by previous tillage ; hence the epithet culti. With these, 
the two chief rewards of the soldier, are contrasted in the next two lines 
his toils and perils. — 3. quern, whomsoever, vicino hoste, an adjunct of 
assiduus. terreat, sc. because of his constant exposure to danger, in his 
labors. — 4. The force of pulsa here is the sudden vehement trumpet-blast 
in a night-surprise. Pr. — 5. paupertas denotes poverty only as narrowness 
of means. See D., s. v. vitae, poetical dative instead of the accusative with 
a preposition, traducat, i.e. from his previous military service. — 6. Notice 
the contrast between assiduo igne and labor assiduus, v. 3. — 7. Ipse, 
emphatic, With my own hand, teneras and grandia are also contrasted 
— II. Nam veneror, etc., i.e. I ought to prosper, for I reverence the gods 
of the country both in the lonely fields and in the crowded cross-ways. Pr. 
stipes, lapis. Trunks of trees and stones sacred to the rustic deities 
were honored with garlands, fillets, libations, and ointments. — 14. ag- 
ricolae deuni, sc. Silvanus ; the Ms. reading, changed by Dissen to agri- 
colae deo, by others to agricolam deum. ponitur, sc. as a votive offering. 
See Lex., s.v. II, B. 5. — 17. ruber custos, painted with vermillion. — 
18. Priapus, originally an Asian divinity, a god of the fertility of nature; 
among the Romans a rural deity, the guardian of flocks and herds, gar- 
dens, vineyards, and bees. — 19. felicis quondam, sc. before the con- 
fiscation of the civil wars. — 20. vestra, i.e. those suited to you, such as a 
lamb. Lares, sc. arvales, the guardians of the whole farm. — 21. Tunc, 
refers to quondam. — 23. cadet, i.e. shall be slain in sacrifice. See 
Lex., s. v. I, B. 2, b. — 25. modo non = fere, propemodum ; with pos- 
sum, I a?n all but able. Cf. Virg. Aen. IX, 141 : penitus modo non genus 
omne perosos. But, as this interpretation does not fit well with the nee 
semper of the next line, the text is believed by many editors to be corrupt, 
and various emendations have been proposed, none of them however very 
satisfactory. — 26. longae viae, long and distant military expeditions. — 
27. Canis, Sirius, the constellation, of which the brightest star is Catiicula. 
aestivos ortus, i.e. the heat caused by the risings. — 29. Nee tamen, 



ii.] Tibullus. 199 

etc., i.e. "Though chiefly bent on ease, or the more refined task of plant- 
ing, etc., I would fain not be ashamed sometimes of the humbler works of, 
etc.," usually left to slaves. Pr. tenuisse bidentes, pen the sheep. — 
34. Most Mss. insert est. — 35. Hie, sc. on my farm, lustrare refers to the 
celebration of the Palilia. Cf. VII, 81-84 ; Ovid, Fasti, IV, 727 et seqq. — 
36. placidam = ut piacida sit. Dissen. — 37. paupere refers to the 
table itself, si?nple, plain, i.e. not of rare wood or ivory as those of the 
rich. Pr. — ^S. puris, i.e. for they are clean. — 44. membra levare, 
to refresh one's limbs. — 46. detinuisse, a poetic use of the perfect tense 
for the present. See A. 288, d, Rem. ; H. 537, note 2 ; M. 407. — 50. qui 
tristes . . . pluvias is supposed to refer to the fact that the expedition 
to which he was invited started in May, B.C. 31, when the Hyades would 
be ushering in the rainy season. — 51. pereat potiusque. So most Mss. 
and Lachm. and others. The order is reversed by Dissen and Pr. — 
55. laudari, sc. for exploits in war. 

55-58. Cruttwell (p. 301) speaks of these "tender and exquisitely 
musical lines" as having the "same quality as that which gives a charm to 
Gray's Elegy." " Even to the most joyous thoughts of Tibullus, some 
mournful or plaintive sentiment is generally united, and his most gay and 
smiling figures wear chaplets of cypress on their brows." Dunlop, Hist, 
of Rom. Lit. — 57. 

" In my last moments let me gaze on thee, 
And, dying, clasp thee with my faltering hand." — CRANSTOUN. 

— 59. lecto, the funeral pile. — 62. vincta, encased in. — 65. laede, 
offend, sc. by excessive grief, parce . . . crinibus, i.e. do not cut off 
locks of it, to place on the tomb. — 70. capiti, ablative. See Roby, I, 
443; Papillon, p. 125. — 73. composite*, stored up, i.e. already secured, 
" in my humble competence secure " ; ox, just fitted to my wants, moderate, 
as contrasted with cupidis (v. 72), those who are never satisfied. Pr. 



II. 

Written at Corcyra (the modern Corfu), during an illness which 
compelled him to abandon his journey into Asia with Messala, when 
the latter was appointed Praefect of that province, B.C. 30. 

The poet bids farewell to Messala and his companions, expresses 
his dread of death in a foreign land, his self-reproach for leaving 
home in disregard of the omens, prays to Isis for restoration to 



200 Notes. [ii. 

health, praises the golden age in contrast with the avaricious and 
warlike spirit of his own time, gives a description of Elysium and 
of Tartarus, and concludes with hoping for recovery and return to 
his home and Delia. 

2. utinam, sc. sitis. cohors. See Catull. X, 9, note; Lex., s. v. 

11, B. — 6. maestos sinus, the folds of her mourning dress. — 7. Assy- 
rios, for Syrian, as often in the poets. — 9. quae . . . urbe, when she 
was about to bid me farewell. — 11. pueri, sc. sortilegi, the young fortune- 
teller. The lots were little tablets put into an urn {sitelld) filled with water, 
with a narrow neck, so that when the jar was shaken only one lot could 
come to the top of the water at the same time. Diet. Antiq. s. Situla. — 

12. puer, the servant sent out into the street to take an omen from the 
first incident or thing he might see. — 15. Ipse . . . solator, / too, myself, 
though co?isoling her. Pr. mandata, parting wishes. — 16. tardas 
moras, i.e. causes of delay. — 17. sum causatus, made a pretext of 
governs me tenuisse as well as aves and omina. — 18. Saturni diem, 
i.e. Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath, always so called from the time of Pom- 
pey the Great, when the Jewish week of seven days (hebdomas) became 
known to the Romans. Tibullus made the Jewish observance of it (with 
which the Romans were now familiar through the large number of Jews 
resident in the city) a pretext for a dislike to begin his journey on a dies 
nefastus. Cf. Hor. Sat. I, 9, 69, and see Ry., p. 365. — 19. ingressus 
iter, even after I had set out. — 20. offensum in porta. Stumbling on 
the threshold was considered a very unfavorable omen. — 23. The wor- 
ship of the Egyptian goddess, Isis, though prohibited at Rome, on account 
of the licentious orgies connected with her festivals, was never long sup- 
pressed, and was very popular. — 24. aera, the sistrum, a sort of rattle 
used in her religious ceremonies. 

26. pieta tabella, i.e. a votive offering. — 27. votivas voces = vota. 
persolvens, in fulfilment of — 29. "bisque die, twice daily, i.e. at the 
opening of the temple at daybreak and at its close at the eighth hour. 
dicere laudes debeat — debitas dicat laudes. Pr. — 30. insignis, con- 
spicuous, sc. either for her beauty or her gratitude. Pr. turba Pharia, 
the throng of Egyptian priestesses. — 31. Penates, the generic term for 
all the gods worshipped at the hearth, including the Lares, who were cer- 
tain spirits of dead men supposed to watch over and protect the living. — 
32. antiquo, like patrios, marks the contrast with the recently intro- 
duced worship of Isis. menstrua, sc. on the calends of each month. 

34. in longas . . . vias, was laid open to distant journeys, i.e. before 
these were made possible. Pr. — yj* compendia, £-<0*», a rare meaning in 



ii.] Tibulhis. 201 

the poets. — 42. regeret = definiret, sc. by boundary-stones. Cf. Virg. 
Aen. XII, 897-8 : 

" Saxum antiquum, ingens campo quod forte iacebat, 
Limes agro positus, litem ut discerneret arvis." 

— 43. ipsae . . . quercus. Cf. Virg. Georg. 1, 131 : [Jupiter] mellaque 
decussit foliis, sc. after the golden reign of Saturn. — 44. securis, sc. the 
people ; with lactis, lit. free from anxiety respecting milk, i.e. certain 
of obtaining it. Wr. — 46. duxerat, had shaped, or beaten out. — 
48. nunc, sc. in contrast with Saturn's reign. Cf. v. 35. repente = re- 
pentinae. It corresponds with seniper. See H. 443, note 3 ; M. 301, c, 
Obs. 2 : "We should notice as a license, chiefly poetical, that in some few 
instances a substantive personal name is used in apposition with nearly 
the meaning of an adjective, and consequently with an adverb qualifying 
it. In other cases, when an adverb appears to be combined with a sub- 
stantive, it is merely a conciseness of expression which may easily be ex- 
plained. — 49. timidum, though fearful of death. For the use of the 
adjective see H. 442. — 53. inmiti, sc. because premature. — 54. se- 
quiturque. The particles que, ne, ve, are sometimes removed from the 
word to which they properly belong to some word common to both mem- 
bers of the sentence, usually the verb. M. 474,/! — 55. facilis, compliant. 

— 57. choreae, one of the three exceptions to the long quantity of the 
penult in this word. — 64. myrtea, sc. because the myrtle was sacred to 
Venus. — 65. scelerata sedes, the abode of the wicked. — 67. impexa, 
i.e. the snakes are writhing in disorder. — 69. serpentum. More com- 
monly Cerberus was described as a monster with three heads, with the tail 
of a serpent and a mane consisting of the heads of various snakes. Some 
poets call him many-headed, or hundred-headed. — 74. aves. Homer 
represents two vultures as devouring Tityos. Cf. also Lucretius, III, 170 
(993)- — 76. iam, iam. See Lex., s. v. I, A. I, b. — 77. The fifty 
daughters of Danaus, with the exception of Hypermnestra, murdered in 
one night their husbands, the sons of Aegyptus. — 80. lentas, prolonged, 
sc. so that I might not soon return to Delia (meos amores). Pr. — 
85. pensis. See Lex., s. v. B. 1. puella, best taken as a collective term, 
the maiden-group around you. — 87. quisquam . . . ante, as was the 
usual practice among the Romans. — 90. nudato pede, i.e. not delaying 
to put on your sandals, a mark of haste. — 91. hunc ilium, this famous. 
Pr. prefers to take hunc predicatively, and = when I return thus. 



202 Notes. [in. 



III. 

Written in honor of the birthday of Messala, and probably soon 
after his triumph (Sept. 24, B.C. 27), for his victory over Aquitania. 

The poem celebrates Messala's exploits in Aquitania, Cilicia, 
Syria, and Egypt, mentions some of the characteristics of the coun- 
tries he had subjugated or reduced to peace, the mysterious Nile, 
the fertility of its valley, praises the Egyptian god Osiris, the inven- 
tor of agriculture and of the vine, invites him to join in honoring 
the occasion, and closes with a prayer for long life and illustrious 
descendants for his patron and with thanks for the services rendered 
by him to the via Flaminia. 

1. Parcae. According to the poets, the fates — Clotho, Lachesis, and 
Atropos — while spinning (nentes) the thread of a man's destiny, chanted 
a song, generally on the bi?'thday, in which his career was foretold. Cf. 
Catull. XIII, 306; 311-319. — 3. hunc, sc. diem; the day of the con- 
quest of Aquitania, poetically put for the conqueror of it. — 4. at {the 
recollection of) whose prozvess conquered Atax should tremble. Atax, a 
river of Gallia Narbonensis rising in the Pyrenees. Pr. thinks either that 
some other victory over Narbonne must be alluded to, or else that the 
river here meant is the Atur, the chief river of Aquitania. — 5. Eve- 
nere, sc. grammatically, stamina, i.e. the events ordained by the web 
of the fates ; = The prophecy is fulfilled. De. — 10. Santonici. The 
Santones occupied the Atlantic coast about the mouth of the Garumna. 

— 11. Arar, the modern Saone. — 12. Carnoti flavi, of the fair -haired 
Carnutian. The Carnutes were a people on both sides of the Liger. 

13. Transition to Messala's Eastern campaigns. — 14. placidis aquis, 
perhaps a dative for ad aquas, to the calm waters of the lake, into which 
the Cydnus was said by Strabo to fall. Pr., however, considers the emen- 
dation of Voss, placidae aquae, much preferable, vada, here put for the 
river's bed. See Lex., s. v. I, B. 2. — 15. quantus et Taurus alat, for 
et quantus sit Taurus qui alit. Pr. — 18. Palestmo Syro, in distinc- 
tion from Coele Syria, sancta, revered, hallowed by, gives the reason of 
intacta. columba : Doves were sacred to Astarte, the Assyrian Aphro- 
dite, who was thought to protect them. — 22-28. Nilus, Osiris, and Apis 
are placed together here as the three chief agents in the fertility of Egypt, 

— one of the chief granaries of the Romans. — 27. suum, sc. their native 
or kindly. — 28. Memphiten bovem, sc. Apis, the sacred bull which was 
regarded as an incarnation of the favorite deity, Osiris. It was allowed 



iv.] Tibidlus. 203 

to live twenty-five years, and was then drowned in the Nile; and its 
death was followed by national mournings, which gave place to national 
thanksgivings as soon as a new sacred bull was discovered. — 30. ten- 
eram Pr. interprets, shrinking from the first piercing of the plow, as if 
alive. Others render, the tender, infant soil. In v. 33 ^ means slender, 
•weakly, and therefore needing the support of the pali or props. — 
32. noD notis, i.e. which he first showed the people the use of, by plant- 
ing them. — 36. incultis, untrained, i.e. until Osiris taught them this 
employment. — 38. nescia, sc. hitherto. Some render, unconscious, 
through the effect of the wine, modos, tunes. — 39. Bacchus, here 
wine, not the god. — 40. tristitiae, from sadness; a genitive, which is 
also found with solvere in Cic. De Leg. ii, 20 ; Pro Sextio, vii ; Hor. O. 
Ill, xvii, 16. See A. 243, Rem.; G. 373, 6; H. 410, v, 4. dissoluenda 
dedit = fecit ut dissolvereniur. The gerundive is subjoined to the ob- 
ject of certain verbs which signify to give, to take, etc., in order to specify 
it as the design and purpose of the action that something should be done 
to the object. M. 422. — 48. conscia, i.e. witness and guardian of. Pr. 
— 49. ludos Geniumque, a kind of hendiadys ; with centum chords, 
the games in honor of the Genius with a hundred dances. — 51. illius, sc. 
Genii. — 53. hodierne, patron of the day, i.e. the Genius, as the tutelary 
deity of Messala's birthday ; or it may be taken as simply = hodie. Pr. 
On the use of the vocative for the nominative, cf. Virg. Aen. II, 283 ; 
Pers. Sat. Ill, 28; and see A. 241, b; G. 324, Rem. 1 ; H. 369, 3. dem. 
The construction is : sic vejtias {precor) ea co?tditio?te, ut tibi dem, etc. 
Orelli. — 54. liba, melle, the usual offerings on birthdays. Mopsopio, 
i.e. Attic or IIy?nettia?i. Mopsopia was an old name of Attica. — 55. tibi, 
sc. Messala. — 56. veneranda, worthy of honor. — 57. The subject of 
taceat is the antecedent of quern, monumenta viae, i.e. your services 
in constructing part of the via Latina, out of the spoils of war. quern . . • 
detinet, i.e. the inhabitants of those places. — 59. hie . . . hie, in one 
part . . . in another. — 64. veni = redi. 



IV. 

The evils of war contrasted with the blessings of peace and the 
simplicity of country life. 

The poet denounces war and avarice its cause, praises the sim- 
plicity and security of the early ages, implores the Lares to preserve 



204 Notes. [iv. 

him in peril and restore him to his home, and enumerates the bless- 
ings of a long life of peace, in the country. 

I. protulit, invented. — 5. An. So many Mss. and Lachm. ; i.e. Was 
it after all no fault of his ? Others read At, i.e. But the unlucky inven- 
tor was not to blame. — 10. Securus, free fro??i care, varias, of 
different colors; in contrast with the fastidious taste of later times when 
white sheep were sought for, or a whole flock of one color, dux gregis, 
the shepherd. — II. foret = utinam fuisset. vulgi tristia arma, i.e. 
gloomy wars which now agitate mankind, vulgi being used somewhat 
contemptuously for mankind at large. Ry. — 13. qviis for aliquis. — 
14. latere, sc. because the part of the body, which was especially exposed. 

— 16. vestros ante pedes, i.e. before your images on the hearth. — 
17. prisco stipite, a rude old-fashioned block of zuood. De. — 18. sic, i.e. 
even my richer grandfather made you of no costlier material. Pr. — 
19. tenuere, sc. the men of early days, paupere cultu — veneratione 
simplici; offerings poor but free. Cranstoun. — 20. aede, here the atrium, 
not the lararium or aedicula of later times. — 23. voti compos, i.e. in 
fulfilment of a vow, because some prayer had been granted, ipse, in 
person, in contrast with filia. — 26. hostia, sc. erit. rustica, as a 
country offering. So Rossb. and others, after some of the Mss. The read- 
ing mystica is preferred by others. — 34. tacito clam. In illustration 
of the frequency in Tibullus of this use of the adverb to intensify a synony- 
mous adjective, Pr. cites I, V, 65; I, VI, 6; II, 1, 80; II, 6, 11. — 

36. turpis, begrimed, substituted by most editors for puppis, the reading 
of the Mss. Cf. Virg. Aen. VI, 299 : horribili squalore Charon. — 

37. percussis, driven in, i.e. hollow, sunken. Ry. Pr. takes it literally, 
of the dead mourning their own state below, becoming as it were their own 
praeficae. Percussis is the Ms. reading, but has been considered by many 
editors corrupt, and various emendations have been proposed, as exesis, 
pertusis, perscissis. — 39. laudandus, to be praised as happy. Cf. ITor. 
Sat. I, 1, 3. — 42. aquam, sc. for the bath. — 45. Interea, i.e. during 
my life in the country. — 46. duxit araturos, constrained oxen to plow. 

— 47. condidit, preserved. — 48. testa paterna, the a7?iphora stored 
up by his sire. Ry. — 49. vigent, are at work, contrasted with situs. — 
51. luco, i.e. some festival in a consecrated grove, where the sacrifices to 
the rural deities were performed. — 54. perfluat pomis, let overflow zvith 
fruit, candidus sinus, sc. of the vestis pura, cleaned, washed for the 
festival. De. ante, in front of you. Pr. These expressions were doubt- 
less suggested by the representations of Pax and Ceres on coins. 



v.] Tibullus. 205 



V. 

A description of the private Ambarvalia, a festival observed 
with great solemnity by the farmers and their households and ser- 
vants, near the end of April, for the purification of themselves, their 
herds, and their fields. 

The victim was led three times around the boundaries of the 
farm by a procession of reapers and farm servants, dancing and 
singing the praises of Ceres, and praying for her favor, while they 
offered her libations of milk, honey, and wine. Cf. Virg. Georg. 

1, 338. 

1. valeat. So Orelli and Lachm. following most of the Mss. Other 
editors prefer faveat. — 3. Bacche, was one of several divinities in whose 
honor the A?nbarvalia was observed. Cf. v. 4, Ceres; v. 15, Dii pa- 
trii; v. 71, Sancte, i.e. Cupid. Virgil, Georg. 1, 5, mentions Ceres, and 
Cato, De Re Rustica, 141, Mars pater. Bacchus was often represented 
with the horns of a ram or a bull, as symbols of plenty, by the poets and on 
coins. — 6. suspenso vomere. The plow was so light that it was hung 
up when not in use. — 7. vincla, bands of leather which fastened the 
yoke to the necks of the oxen. — 12. puris, i.e. ut purae sint. — 15-22. 
Dii patrii, etc., the prayer of the sacrifice. — 17. neu . . . herbis, let not 
the crop mock the (hope of a) harvest with deceitful blades. Pr. Cf. Virg. 
Georg. I, 225 : illos Exspectata seges vanis elusit aristis. — 19. Tunc, 
i.e. if there be a good prospect of an abundant harvest. — 22. ante, sc. 
focum ; casas, booths built of boughs of trees by the servants. — 
24. libra, denotes the thread-like extremities of the entrails and especially 
the liver, to which peculiar importance was attached in the art of divina- 
tion. — 25. fumosos, i.e. kept in the smoke-chamber to ripen. — 26. con- 
sults, sc. with whose name the vintage of the year was marked, vincla, 
sc. cork sealed with pitch. — 29. bene Messalam, i.e. valere iubeo or 
valere precor, health to Messala. — 30. nomen . . . sonent, "each tongue 
resound the absent herd's name." Cranstoun. — 32. intonsis = priscis. 
See Lex. The Valerii were one of the oldest families in Rome. — 
34. agricolis caelitibus, the tutelary deities of agriculture. — 35. vita, 
here = living lyien, mankind. See Lex., s. v. II, E. — 42. irriguas, 
irrigating. See Lex., s. v. I, B. and cf. Virg. Georg. iv, 32. — 43. aurea, 
precious, or, dainty. Pr. — 44. securo, care -dispelling. — 45. calidi side- 
ris, sc. Sirius, the dog-star. — 47. verno alveo, simply denotes the season 
in which the bees begin their work after hibernation. Pr. flores, i.e. of 



206 Notes. [vi. 

course, the juices of the flowers. Cf. Virg. Georg. iv, 54. — 50. certo 
pede, with fixed measure or rhythm ; ablative of quality. Pr. — 52. orna- 
tos, i.e. in their festal dress. Pr. ; brow-chapleted. Cranstoun. — 54. ab, 
apparently redundant here. Cf. I, 5, 4; I, 9, 66. — 56. dux . . . oves, 
the reading of most Mss. and received by Lachm., but believed by most 
editors to be corrupt, and emended in various ways, oves may perhaps 
be taken for flocks in general, duxerat was substituted for auxerat by 
Muretus and Orelli. Haupt conjectured curias auxerat hircus opes. — 
59. exhibitura, destined to furnish ; " to form a task for many a tender 
maid" Cranstoun. — 62. " and iti?nble thumbs deft spindles keep in playP 
Cranstoun. Cf. Catullus, XIII, 311-314, and notes. — 63. assiduae ope- 
rata Minervae, intent upon Minerva's busy work. Pr. textrix, found 
in no other classic author except Martial (IV, 19). — 64. " hence rings the 
web beneath the driven lay." Cranstoun. appulso, sc. by the shuttle, — 
74. matris. The stars are represented as daughters of the night, las- 
civo, nimble or merry. Either of these meanings is admissible and 
appropriate. Ry. — 75. 

" Then silent sleep, with tawney wings outspread, 
And gloom-wrapt dreams, behind them tottering steal." — CRANSTOUN. 



VI. 

To Cornutus on his birthday. 

1. bona verba, words of good omen. Natalis = Genius, to whom it 
was customary for men to make offerings on their birthdays. — 3. odores, 
sc. such as spikenard, cinnamon, and cassia. — 4. tener = mollis. Cf. 
Catull. V, 5. — 12. edidicisse, have learned by heart, i.e. because you 
have so frequently offered this prayer. Wr. — 15. felicibus = divitibus. 
— 17. cadunt = eveniunt, are effectual, and therefore cease.— 18. flava 
vincula. Orange-yellow was the color of the flammeus, or bridal veil. — 
21. Hie . . . ministret. Such let the birthday Genius come and supply 
offspring to the ancestors of Cornutus. Wr. Instead of Hie avis, Hac avi, 
With such an omen, has been conjectured. — 22. Cf. the similar wish 
expressed in Catull. LXI, 211-220. 



vii.] Tibullus. 207 



VII. 

In honor of the election of M. Valerius Messalinus, the eldest 
son of Messala the patron of Tibullus, to the college of the quinde- 
ce7nviri, to whose care the Sibylline books were entrusted. These 
were now kept in the temple of Apollo on the Palatine, and the 
ceremony of inauguration of newly-elected priests was performed 
there. This elegy was probably written in B.C. 21. The outline 
is as follows : 

Exordium, vs. 1-18, addressed to Phoebus, the god of prophecy. 

Parti. 1, 19-22; 35-60: The destinies of Aeneas and his de- 
scendants foretold to him by the Cumaean Sibyl. — 2, 23-34: 
Parenthetic digression describing the site of Rome at the time of 
Aeneas' arrival. 

Part II. 1, 61-73: The prophetic utterances of other Sibyls, 
already fulfilled. — 2, 73-76: Prayer to Phoebus to avert calamity 
from the Roman people, and to grant peace and plenty, and rural 
enjoyments. — 3, 77-98 : Exhortation to the husbandmen to rejoice 
at the cheering prospect. Description of a rural festival. — 4, 99-108 : 
Entreaty to Nemesis to spare him that he may be enabled to cele- 
brate in fitting strains the glorious deeds of Messalinus. 

I. Phoebe. Italy had no native deity possessing the same attributes 
as Apollo, whose worship was established in Rome B.C. 320. tua templa, 
the celebrated temple on the Palatine, dedicated by Augustus, B.C. 28, con- 
nected with which was the noted library, Bibliothecae Graeca et Latina. 
Cf. Propertius, IV. — 4. laudes, sc. of the god and his newly-appointed 
priest. Pr. flectere, to shape. For the mood see A. 331,^; G. 532, Rem. 4; 
H. 535, IV. This construction is frequent in Ovid ; elsewhere rarer than 
the subjunctive with ut. — 5. triumphal!, probably refers to the prom- 
ised triumphs of Messalinus. Cf. v. 10 1, et seqq. Voss and others refer it 
to the rejoicing over the recent victory at Actium. — 6. cumulant, sc. 
ministri, with fruits, or victims. Cf. Virg. Aen. XI, 50: cumtdantque 
altaria donis. — 8. sepositam, set apart for festivals. — 9. qualem, etc., 
i.e. dressed as when thou sangest. — 11. tibi deditus, consecrated to thy 
service. The four chief methods of divination among the Romans are 
mentioned in this and the following lines. — 12. fati depends on pro- 
vida. — 13. sortes. See II, 11, note. — 14. lubrica, quickly changing, 
and therefore difficult to apprehend correctly ; or it may be understood 



208 Notes. [vii. 

literally of the slippery entrails just from the newly-slaughtered animal. — 
16. senis pedibus, i.e. in hexameter metre. — 18. vatis, i.e. the Sibyl. 

19. Haec, sc. the Cumaean Sibyl, when Aeneas landed in Italy. See 
Virg. Aen. VI, passim. Pr. thinks the reference is to an earlier response 
given to Aeneas in Asia Minor, perhaps by the Sibyl of Erythrae in Ionia. 
sortes, the responses of the Sibyl. — 22. Ilion, sc. ardentem. — 25. Pa- 
latia. Greek accusative. See A. 238, a\ G. 331 ; H. 371, II, note. — 
28. facta agresti falce, " carved with rustic blade." — 29. vagi, roving, 
and therefore having no fixed sanctuary where to offer his vows. Pr. 
votom, votive-offering. See Lex., s. v. A. 2, a. In apposition with it is 
fistula, 

11 The pipe composed of lessening reeds made fast 
With wax — each reed cut shorter than the last." — CRANSTOUN. 

— 34. pulla. So the best Mss. Many editors have changed to pulsa. 

— 40. caelo = ad caelum, as often in the poets. H. 385, 4; M. 251. — 
43. mini, ethical dative, / see the glare, incendia seems to refer to some 
burning of the camp of Turnus not spoken of by Virgil. — 51. terris . . . 
regendis, sc. est, is destined by fate to rule the world. Wr. — 52. qua . . . 
Ceres, i.e. wherever the cultivated earth extends. — 54. amnis, the ocean- 
stream, which, according to the Homeric geography, encompassed the 
earth. — 55. se mirabitur, i.e. will pride herself in her more illustrious 
child, Rome. Pr. — 56. tarn longa via, i.e. by causing her to make so 
long a voyage, sc. from Asia Minor to Italy. — 57. Sic, sc. ut vera cecini. 
innoxia, unharmed, laurus. For the case see A. 249, b; G. 405, 
Rem. 1 ; H. 421, note 4; Roby, II, 1226. — 60. iactavit . . . comas, 
and tossed the locks that showered o^er her forehead, after the manner of 
prophetesses. Pr. 

61. The apodosis of the clause Quicquid . . . sinu is in v. 73. 
Amalthea and Marpessia were names of Sibyls ; Herophile was a 
priestess of Apollo. Lachm. and others make Marpessia and Herophile 
one person, and in v. 62 read Phaeto Graiaque quod monuit instead of the 
reading of most Mss., given in the text. — 63. Albana Tiberis, is also the 
reading of the best Mss. Scaliger conjectured Albuna, from the descrip- 
tion given by Varro of the tenth Sibyl: Deci?nam Tiburtem, nomine 
Albuneam ; quae Tiburi colitur, tit Dea, iuxta ripas amnis Anienis ; 
ctiius in gurgite simulacrum eius inventum esse dicitur, tenens in vianu 
librum. Ctiius sortes senatus in Capitolium transtulerit. Others from 
the reading of some Italian Mss. substitute Aniena Tiburs ; and Pr. ren- 
ders : whatever sacred oracles the Sibyl of Tibur may have kept and car- 
ried dry amid the strea?n of the Anio. — 65. mala signa, etc., refer to 
the portents, said to have occurred about the time of the civil wars and 



viii.] Tibullus. 209 

Caesar's death. — 66. ut deplueretque, i.e. foreque ut deplueret. For 
similar instances of the position of que in Tibullus see vs. 22, 80 ; I, 3, 38 ; 
I, 10, 54. — 68. audita, sc. esse, lucos, i.e. voices from the groves. — 
70. vocales, e?idowed with speech. — 72. annus. Both Pliny the elder 
and Plutarch speak of the year 44 B.C. as marked throughout by a dimin- 
ished light of the sun after the eclipse which then took place. Pr. — 
73. fuerant olim, were long since past and gone. See note on v. 61. 
iani mitis, i.e. now again benignant, after thy displeasure at Caesar's 
death, which prompted thee to cause or permit these portents. — 74. pro- 
digia . . . aequoribus, sc. according to the custom among the Romans, 
that no one might be polluted by contact with them, and that all evil effects 
from them might be prevented. — 75. crepitet . . . laurea. This was 
always considered a good omen. — 79. oblitus niusto, indicates the 
abundance of the vintage. — 80. lacus, the cistern into which the must 
flowed from the wine-press, and in which the process of fermentation was 
allowed to begin, dolia, the large earthenware vats, coated on the inside 
with pitch, in the cella vinaria, in which the fermentation was completed. 
Ry., p. 438. — 81. sua festa, because Pales was the goddess of cattle and 
shepherds. — 84. flammas . . . sacras, sc. in order to be purified by 
the smoke. — 88. balba verba, i.e. in imitation of the speech of his 
little grandson. — 90. antiquae, and therefore having a more spreading 
foliage. Pr. levis, glancing, wavy ; or airy, i.e. not close and oppres- 
sive. Pr. — 95. Pace tua, apologizes for his wish, as Phoebus was usually 
represented as carrying bow and arrows himself. Pr. — 100. puella, sc. 
his mistress, Nemesis. — 102. oppida victa, pictures or models of con- 
quered towns, carried in the triumphal procession. — 105. Messala meus, 
i.e. my patron, the father of Messalinus. pia . . . turbae, exhibit to the 
throng his affection for his distinguished son. — 107. sic, i.e. on this con- 
dition, if thou grant my wish, tibi . . . intonsi capilli, may est thou be 
ever blessed with youth. — 108. soror, sc. Diana. 



VIII. 



Lament over separation from Neaera, the poefs cara coniunx 
(v. 32), and contempt for all wealth and splendor in comparison 
with her society. 

2. blanda, persuasive. — 4. donio is technically, in distinction from 
insula^ the mansion of a rich or noble family. Cranstoun renders the line : 
" on splendor's glare or wealth's distinction bent," 



210 Notes. [ix. 

5. renovarent, might plow, lit. ttirn tip afresh for a new crop. Ry. — 
8. caderet, might sink to rest. — 13. Phrygiis columnis. Synnada, a 
town in Phrygia, was celebrated for a beautiful white marble, variegated 
with purple spots or veins, obtained from the quarries of Docimia, a village 
near it. — 14. Taenare, a promontory at the southern extremity of La- 
conia, noted for its black marble ; Caryste in Euboea, for its marble of 
green color streaked with white. — 15. in domibus, i.e. in the per istylia, 
where shrubs and small trees were often planted. See Becker's Gallus,p. 260, 
and cf. Hor. Epist. I, 10, 22 : Nempe inter varias nutritur silva columnas. 

— 16. trabes, the beams which formed the lacunar or fretted ceiling. 
Cf. Hor. O. II, 18, 1-5. — 17. Erythraeo litore, the Persian gulf cel- 
ebrated for its pearl (concha) fisheries. — 20. falso, erroneously. — 
21. nientes . . . curaeque = curae mentis humanae ; or levantur may 
be taken in a double sense. Zeugma. — 22. tempora, i.e. the conditions 
and seasons of life. — 28. non meus = inimicus, who favors i?ie not. Wr. 

— 29. Lydius . . . amnis, sc. the Pactolus. — 31. paupere cultu. Cf. 
the use of the same phrase in IV, 19. — ^. Saturnia, daughter of Saturn, 
i.e. Juno. — 34. Cypria, sc. Venus. 

" Smile Cyprian goddess, wafted on thy shell." — CRANSTOUN. 

— 35. tristes, stern, inexorable. — 38. dives, sc. because Pluto was sup- 
posed to be the possessor of all subterranean treasure, in ignava luri- 
dus aqua, gloo??iy amidst sluggish water. Wr. 

" Pale Orcus ! call me to thy sluggish wave, 
Thy gulfy streams and marsh of ebon gloom." — CRANSTOUN. 



IX. 

To some friends at the Etruscan Springs. A lament at the 
apparent approach of premature death from fever, an assertion of 
innocence of any act of impiety meriting this fate, a supplication for 
recovery, and an entreaty to the poet's friends to offer sacrifices for 
it on his behalf. 

1. Vos, sc. the poet's friends. Etruscis fontibus. Among the 
watering-places of Etruria, the most famous on account of their mineral 
springs were the Aquae Caeretanae, Pisanae, Tauri (near Centumcellae), 
Apollinares, Passeris, Populoniae and Volaterranae. — 3. sacris, in allu- 
sion to the tutelary nymphs or deities, of which each fountain had one. 
proxima, sc. in merit; a conjecture quite generally adopted, for the 



x.] Tibullus. 2 1 1 

Ms. reading maxima. — 4. se remittit, releases itself, sc. ex frigore. 

— 5. nigram horam, contrasted with purpureo vere. — 8. laudan- 
dae deae. The allusion is partly to the rites of the Bona Dea, partly 
to the Eleusinian mysteries of Ceres and Proserpine, which the poet 
appears to confound with those of the Bona Dea. — 10. trita, pcn.udered. 

— 13. insanae . . . mentis, brooding over the resentments of a frenzied 
mind. Pr. — 16. tardo pede, with halting step, a part of the description 
of old age. Pr. — 18. consul uterque, sc. Hirtius and Pansa, both of 
whom fell at the siege of Mutina in B.C. 43. This line furnishes proof 
therefore that Tibullus was not the author of this elegy. — 22. tertia 
regna, i.e. Tartarus, assigned to Pluto. The other two kingdoms were 
those of Jupiter and Neptune. — 23. The emphasis is on olim, i.e. not 
now, but later when, etc. Pr. — 28. ter quinos. Pr. regards such exact 
details of minute facts as this, and the repetition, in the next lines, of the 
same idea as that expressed at the beginning of the poem, without any 
attempt to van' it, as marks of inferior composition and taste, sed, i.e. but 
it is no vain fear, for, etc. — 30. facilis lenta unda manu, "the yield- 
ing wave with pliant arm." pellitur, sc. in swimming. — 32. fuisse, 
like the perfect indicative, contrasts the past with the present, implying that 
what was true then, is not true now. A. 279, a ; G. 228, I; H. 471, 1,2). 

— ^. Interea, i.e. So long as a possibility of recovery remains, pro- 
mittite, etc. Black victims, honey, wine, and milk were the proper offer- 
ings to the infernal gods. 



X. 

One of the Epistolae Amatoriae of Cerinthus and Sulpicia, the 
latter of noble family, the daughter of Servius Sulpicius, the former 
not her equal in rank, a friend of Tibullus. Whether these were 
real or fictitious names, however, has been doubted. 

Cerinthus praises the beauty of Sulpicia, as she appears dressed 
for the festival of the Matronalia. 

1. tibi culta, arranged in honor of thee, tuis, i.e. the Kalends of 
March. At this festival wives received presents from their husbands, and 
girls from their lovers. ' Cf. vs. 15, 16. — 3. Hoc . . . ignoseet, sc. on 
account of the beauty of Sulpicia. — 4. turpiter, i.e. to a war-god. — 
S. "behind her Beauty walks unseen, arranging her attire." Cranstoun. 
— 10. veneranda, sc. because of greater dignity and stateliness given her 
thereby. — 13. felix, fortunate above the rest, in everything becoming 



212 Notes. [x. 

him. Pr. — 15. caris = pretiosis. — 16. bis madefacta, twice-dyed, as 
were the best robes, first with scarlet and then with purple. — 17. The 
subject of possideat is quae to be supplied from cui in v. 15. — 23. hoc 
sumet, she shall spend this festival ; the Ms. reading, sumite, Lach- 
mann's conjecture, is adopted by many editors : take this as your sub- 
ject, i.e. the beauty of Sulpicia. 



NOTES TO PROPERTIUS. 



INTRODUCTION. 

SEXTUS PROPERTIUS was an Umbrian by birth, and prob- 
ably a native of Asisium, a town on the west slope of the 
Apennines, not far from Perusia. He was born circa 50 B.C., as he 
is known to have been younger than Tibullus and older than Ovid ; 
and his death occurred later than 16 B.C., but nothing whatever is 
known of him after that year. 

Through the loss of the family-estates in the confiscation of lands 
by the Triumviri in B.C. 42, soon after the death of his father, he 
was reduced to comparative poverty, but his mother's efforts secured 
for him a superior education. For the completion of this he re- 
moved to Rome, probably on assuming the toga viriiis* and entered 
on a course of training for the bar, but soon changed his purpose 
and devoted himself to poetry, residing the rest of his life in a house 
on the Esquiline. 

His earliest poems brought him into notice and gained him admis- 
sion to the literary circle of Maecenas, who appreciated his poetic 
talents and urged him to enter the field of epic poetry. And of the 
intimate friendly relations of this eminent patron of learning to the 
poet (the historian Merivale's representations to the contrary not- 
withstanding) there is abundant evidence in the poems addressed 
to him by Propertius (II, 1 ; IV, 8). 

Among his other literary friends were Virgil, parts of whose 
Aeneid he had the opportunity of reading before its publication, and 
of whose genius he expresses his admiration in one of his poems 
(III, 32, 61 seqq), Ovid, Ponticus, an epic poet, and others whose 
names are mentioned in his works. As Propertius could hardly 
have failed to meet Horace at the house of Maecenas, the place of 
their common and frequent resort, the entire silence of the two 
poets respecting each other (with the exception of a passage in 
Horace's epistles — II, 2, 87-101 — which seems to be a direct and 



214 Notes. 

severe attack upon Propertius) must have been occasioned by some 
personal dislike, as to the cause of which there have been various 
conjectures. 

The ninety-one elegies of Propertius are, in all the manuscripts, 
divided into four Books. The poems in the second of these Lach- 
raann separated into two books, beginning Book III, with an elegy 
(II, 10 of the old notation), which was evidently intended to be the 
dedication of a Book to Augustus in parallelism with the first of 
Book II, an elegy addressed to Maecenas. This new division has 
been generally accepted, and is considered undoubtedly correct by 
Teuffel in his History of Roman literature. Baehrens and Palmer, 
however, the two latest editors of the text, have returned to the 
old order, and Postgate argues strenuously in its favor, maintaining 
that the reasons for Lachmann's change "are inconclusive, refuted 
by positive evidence, and little more than an arbitrary surmise." 
So that the case has been reopened, and is still sub iudice. 

The poems of Propertius have been grouped, according to their 
subjects, in three classes, as follows : 1st, Personal, which are 
chiefly amatory and addreseed to Cynthia, and include most of the 
first three Books ; 2d, Political and Social, which are upon events 
of the day, and are addressed to Augustus, Maecenas, and others ; 
and 3d, Historical and Antiquarian. 

While Catullus had introduced elegiac verse into Latin literature, 
and Tibullus had carried it to a high degree of perfection, Paley 
considers that " to Propertius may fairly be attributed the first suc- 
cessful effort to take up this metre uniformly as the best for narrative 
as well as for poetic sentiment " ; and Cruttwell's opinion is that 
" he was the greatest master of pentameter Rome ever produced. 
Its rhythm in his hands rises at times almost into grandeur."' 

" There is a strength and sometimes a grandeur in his language which would 
have been more highly relished in the sterner age of Lucretius. He stands 
alone among the Roman poets in the force and fervor he imparts to elegiac 
verse; he alone raises the soft and languid pentameter to the dignity of its 
heroic consort. But it is in the weight of single lines and the manly savor of 
single expressions that the charm of this writer is to be found, while he is defi- 
cient in sustained majesty, in natural grace, and in flowing rhythm." — Meri- 
VALE. 

" Generally harmonious and smooth, he now and then adventures a word of 
four and even five syllables, or two spondees, at the end of his hexameters, and 
there is a greater predominance of spondees over dactyls than in Tibullus and 



Propertius. 215 

Ovid. His habit of using largely words of four, five, or even three syllables at 
the end of the pentameter give a character to the Propertian as contrasted with 
the more polished and equable Ovidian distich. One of the chief beauties of 
Propertius' style consists in his habit of balancing the concluding noun of the 
pentameter by its epithet in the first half of the verse." — Paley. 

Although Propertius took the Alexandrine poets for his model, 
and was ambitious to be famed as " the Roman Callimachus," it is 
the judgment of such critics as Teuffel that " he greatly surpassed 
his patterns in vivacity, originality of mind, and passion " ; and that 
" he was a perfect master of pathos, which may be called the soul 
of elegy." 

Postgate in his elaborate analysis of the qualities of Propertius as 
a poet, attributes the " obscurity" for which he has been so often 
criticised "to a certain vagueness and indirectness in his manner 
of conceiving and presenting an idea, to his desire for brevity, his 
disposition to be spasmodic and incoherent, — often leaving his sen- 
tences without connecting particles, — his fondness for abrupt tran- 
sitions of thought and construction ; and in singular combination or 
alternation with these characteristics, to too close a coherence between 
the members of sentences — sometimes necessitating the reading of 
a sentence as a whole, and making it almost impossible to give it a 
detailed construction — and to a fulness often degenerating into 
redundance, due in part to his desire to be emphatic, or to his ten- 
dency to exaggeration." 

On the other hand, among his poetic excellences this critic speci- 
fies, "his unusually large vocabulary and the freedom with which 
he uses it, the extraordinary originality of his conceptions, the bold- 
ness of his imagery, the modern and even romantic tone in his 
employment of sentiment, and the power of awakening sympathy in 
his readers " ; and he contrasts Propertius with his contemporary 
and rival elegiasts as follows : 

" In some respects both Tibullus and Ovid may claim the advantage over 
Propertius ; Tibullus for refined simplicity, for natural grace and exquisiteness 
of touch ; Ovid for the technical merits of execution, for transparency of con- 
struction, for smoothness and polish of expression. But in all the higher 
qualities of a poet he is as much their superior. 

" Tibullus is seen at his best where he has a theme which gives play to his 
delicate sensibility and refined tenderness. Still this delicacy and finish hardly 
atone for the absence of robuster excellence. What we miss above all in him 
is variety and imaginative power and boldness. 



2i6 Notes. 

" In vigor and originality of conception, in richness and variety of coloring, 
nay, in the very quality and compass of imagination, Propertius leaves them far 
behind." 

" The poetry of Propertius forms a striking contrast with that of his contem- 
porary Tibullus. While the latter is simple, popular, national, and religious, 
Propertius is artificial, erudite, foreign, and mythological. Though not without 
Roman strength, majesty, and patriotic sympathy with the destinies of his 
country, yet his intimate knowledge of Greek poetry, his love of Greek art and 
legend, his power of throwing himself into the situations and scenes of other 
lands, impart a foreign coloring to his thought, style, and expression. 

" His elegies are crowded with metaphors and figures ; his impassioned out- 
bursts and abrupt appeals, combined with a straining after artificial phrases, 
forced constructions, and condensed expressions, frequently make his meaning 
obscure, though they impart liveliness and variety to the poet's style, which con- 
trasts powerfully with the even and lucid monotony of Tibullus. His Greek 
erudition also displays itself in the parade of a recondite mythology to a greater 
degree than is found in any other Latin poet." — PlNDER. 

" Propertius sang the sweet, sad story of his love, the time-hoary legends of 
Rome, the praises of Maecenas and the glory of Augustus, the untimely fates 
of Paetus and the young Marcellus, the devoted affection of Aelia Galla and 
the stainless honor of Cornelia, — giving to Roman elegy a freshness and variety 
hitherto unknown. 

" And no one who has read him, even cursorily, requires to be told how 
powerful an instrument elegiac verse became in his hands, as w r ell for descrip- 
tive purposes as for the delineation of the master-passion in its varied phases 
of tenderness, ecstasy, grief, jealousy, and despair. In the poetry of pure pas- 
sion he is second to Catullus alone. He lacks the sweet grace and tender 
melancholy that lend such an exquisite charm to the elegies of Tibullus, and 
the easy flow and melodious chimes that lead us lovingly along in Ovid ; but 
his verse has a strength and vigor and sparkle, to which they even in their 
happiest efforts can lay no claim. No poet ever more completely threw his 
soul into the music of his verse; every line reflects the man. Hence his 
originality is always unquestionable, his utterances sincere, his pathos genuine. 

" Learned in the literature and steeped in the charming mythology of Greece, 
Propertius everywhere in his works presents traces of Greek culture, archaeo- 
logical research, and that exquisite refinement and polish which are the result 
of long and laborious study. His myths are frequently obscure, and he is apt 
to use Greek forms of expression a little too ostentatiously ; his style is admit- 
tedly difficult, and his meaning often not at first apparent. But his metaphors 
are uniformly apt and beautiful ; his language strong, nervous, and brilliant ; 
and his antitheses singularly pointed, — traits which constitute, with those who 
have been long and intimately conversant with his works, his greatest and most 
delightful charm. Not rarely he gives us a perfect picture in a single line. And, 
all things considered, he may fairly be ranked among the greatest poets of the 
Augustan age." — Cranstoun. 



i.] Propertius. 217 



To Cynthia, against extravagance in dress and artificial adorn- 
ments. 

1 . ornato, dressed, not necessarily decorated, though this was usually 
done. Pe. See Becker's Gallus, p. 439. procedere, to move in a stately 
or majestic manner. Pe. vita, here = Cynthia. See Lex., s. v. II, D. — 
2. Coa veste, an ablative of material. A. 244; G. 396; H. 415, III. 
P. makes it dependent upon induta understood. The island of Cos was 
noted for the manufacture of fine, transparent silk fabrics, tenues 
movere sinus, the fluttering of the delicate folds. — 3. Orontea. The 
perfumes of the East, and especially of Arabia, came to Rome from An- 
tioch on the Orontes, the great emporium at this time. Pr. — 4. pere- 
grinis immeribus, i.e. the productions of foreign lands. Pe. takes 
peregrinis in a disparaging sense, and renders niuneribus, graces, 
endowments, te vendere, to set yourself off. See Lex., s. v. II, B. — 
5. mercato, in a passive sense, as the perfect participles of many deponent 
verbs are. A. 135, b; H. 231, 2; M. 153. — 7. medicina, artificial means 
of improving or rendering beautiful. See Lex., s. v. C. 2. — 8. nudus, 
i.e. because without disguises. Pe. formae artificem, the maker of an 
artificial beauty, i.e. making it a thing of ornament and dress. Py. — 
9. quos, the relative pronoun, summittit. Cf. Lucretius, I, 7. — 10. ut, 
how. — 11. antris, here mountain-dells. Cf. I, 1, 11. The emphasis in 
this and the following verses is on the words implying the absence of art. 
Py. — 12. indociles, not shown, untaught. See Lex., s. v. II. — 13. col- 
lucent. The construction no longer depends upon aspice, but becomes 
direct. — 14. nulla arte = quod nulla ars adest. — 16. cultu, by attire. 
— 17. discordia, the cause of strife. — 18. Eueni filia, i.e. Marpessa. 
patriis litoribus. Evenus, unable to overtake Idas, when he carried off 
Marpessa, drowned himself in the river of Aetolia, thenceforth called after 
his name, litoribus, here for ripa. — 19. traxit, allure, falso, arti- 
ficial. — 20. avecta . . . rotis, Pelops carried away Hippodamia, daugh- 
ter of Oenomaus, King of Pisa in Elis, after vanquishing him in the chariot 
race. — 21. facies, beauty, aderat, was present to help them. Pe. ob- 
noxia, indebted. See Lex., s. v. II, B. — 22. Apelles was famed for the 
delicate coloring of his figures. He invented a process of varnishing his 
pictures which not only preserved them, but made the colors richer and 
more subdued. He generally painted on panels (tabulis) . — 23. Hunting 
for lovers was not their life's ai?n. Pe. — 25. istis, is said with contempt 
of real or supposed rivals. Pr. paraphrases : " Don't fancy I shall think 



2i8 Notes. [ii. 

you esteem me the less, by not adorning yourself for me as you might for 
other lovers." Pe. makes this line an interruption of Cynthia's : " I am 
not afraid of your preferring your heroines to me. I am sure of you. I 
dress for others." — 27. cum tibi praesertim, i.e. and you especially, 
since to you, etc. carmina, power of song. Pe. A. p. 298 ; G. 689 ; 
H. 636, II. — 30. omnia quaeque for omniaque quae. For a similar 
displacement of the particle see Tibull. VII, 66. quae probat, i.e. all 
the charms these goddesses regard with satisfaction. — 31. his, i.e. by 
these charms of beauty and mental endowments, nostrae vitae = nobis 
dum vivimus, a method of expressing the concrete by the abstract very 
common in Propertius. Pr. — 32. Taedia . . . luxuriae, provided you 
hold in dislike finery that brings no happiness. Py. 



II. 

Expression of the poet's fear that in the event of his death 
Cynthia would forget him ; assurance of his deathless affection for 
her ; and exhortation to the enjoyment of the present hour, as the 
longest life is too short for love. 

2. moror. See Lex., s. v. II, B, 2. fata, Kuinoel understands as 
= a dead body ; Py. regards it as a mere periphrasis for fatum rogi. — 
5. puer, i.e. Cupid. Pr. illustrates, by this, Propertius' practice of omitting 
the attribute that would mark out the subject distinctly, as one cause of 
his obscurity, haesit, sc. as a bird caught by bird-lime. Hertzberg; has 
left his image in the pupils of my eyes. Wr. — 7. Phylacides, i.e. Prote- 
silaus, so attached to his wife, that he obtained leave of the gods to return 
to his former abode for a single day. illic caecis locis, there in the 
gloomy realms of the dead, a pleonasm common in Greek. Py. — 9. falsis 
. . . palmis, to grasp his darling with shadowy hands. Pr. — 10. Thes- 
salis umbra, refers to Phylacides, and is added as a predicate. Hertz- 
berg. — 12. magnus, strongs emphatic. — 15. quarum, yet of these. — 
16. ita, sc. esse ; and may earth in her justice allow this, i.e. my prefer- 
ence of thee. Pr. — 18. lacrimis meis = mihi lacrimanti. ossa = 
\ umbra tua. Py. paraphrases this verse thus: your death will ever be 
looked for to console my grief in Hades ; and explains as follows: "The 
action of a survivor on earth clasping the bones of a deceased relative and 
bedewing them with tears is poetically transferred to one previously de- 
ceased and expecting his partner in Hades." — 19. Quae mea sentire 



in.] Profiertius. 219 

favilla, to feel the same changeless love for me, on the occasion of my bei7ig 
burnt on the pyre. Pr. — 22. a. Several editors read heu. The Mss. have e. 
iniquus Amor, a passion alien to me, i.e. another suitor after my death. 
Pr. — 24. certa, i.e. quamvis constans. minis, i.e. of a mother or other 
relative wishing to draw off Cynthia from her grief for Properties. Pr. 



in. 

A prooemium or introduction (probably) to the third Book of Elegies. 
The poet declares his purpose to renounce love-poetry and sing the achieve- 
ments of Augustus, but ends abruptly with a graceful compliment to the emperor 
and an acknowledgment of his inability to pursue such a lofty theme. — CRANS- 
TOUN. 

I. 8ed tempus, etc. This abrupt beginning Hertzberg explains by 
supposing that the idea in the poet's mind was : Hitherto I have sung the 
loves of maidens, but, etc. lustrare, to go over. See Lex., s. v. II, B. 
aliis choreis. For the metaphor see V, 4, note. — 2. Haemonio. Thes- 
salian horses were noted for their breed, campum dare equo, means 
to give the steed wider space, as well as to urge him to full speed. Py. — 
3. ad proelia, an adjunct of fortes. — 4. mei ducis, sc. Augustus. — 
5. audacia, sc. to make the attempt ; rare in a good sense. — 7. ex- 
trema, here merely maturer age. — 8. quando = quandoquidem. — 
9. subducto, drawn up. Drawing up the eyebrows was a mark of aus- 
terity. Pe. gravior, more digfiified. — 10. aliam citharam, i.e. a more 
exalted strain. Pe. — 11. ex= after. — 12. magni oris, of a lofty strain. 
"Outpour the lofty UneP — 13. lam negat = no longer boasts. Py. post 
terga tueri, sc. for a chance to discharge an arrow during retreat. — 
14. Crassos, sc. Crassus the triumvir and his son, both of whom were 
killed in the expedition against the Parthians, B.C. 54. tenuisse = non 
remisisse. — 16. intactae, sc. because the Romans were first brought 
against it on this occasion. The allusion here is to the expedition of 
Aelius Gallus in B.C. 24 ; and as that ended in defeat this poem was prob- 
ably written in B.C. 25. Py. — 19. sequar, sc. in spirit and with my song. 
— 21. seqq. One of the noblest images of ancient poetry. Pe. caput in 
magnis tangere signis, to reach the head of a lofty statue. — 23. inopes 
. . . carmen, unable to rise to the height of heroic song. Py. On the use 
of adjectives with the infinitive see A. 273, d; G. 424, 4; H. 533, 3, note 
2; Roby, II, 1361. This is the only place where inops is so used. — 
24. pauperibus sacris, in poverty-stricken rites, Wr. — 25. Ascraeos, 



220 Notes. [iv. 

i.e. Heliconian and hence poetic. — 26. The source of the river Permesus 
was the fountain Aganippe, on the northeast of Mt. Helicon, which flowed 
past Ascra. flumine, antithetic to fontes, the fountain-head of song 
and the strea?n that flows from it. modo = tantummodo. lavit, sc. me. 
Bathing in as well as drinking of the sacred well was thought to give poetic 
inspiration. The antithesis is between heroic and amatory subjects. Py. 



IV. 

As an excuse for his delay in visiting Cynthia, the poet pleads 
his presence at the dedication of the temple of Apollo on the Pala- 
tine (built by Augustus in memory of his victory at Actium) , which 
occurred Oct. 24, B.C. 28 ; and gives a description of the temple. 

I. aurea. Whether this is to be taken literally or merely means mag- 
nificent, cannot be certainly determined. Chryselephantine decoration 
was not uncommon on the doors and panelled ceilings of temples. Pe. — 
2. porticus, really, more than one. aperta, opened. — 3. in speciem, 
with a view to effect. The columns were arranged for the purpose of pre- 
senting a magnificent appearance, not merely for structural use. Py. Poe- 
nis, i.e. African, JVumidian, now called giallo antico. — 4. Danai • . • 
senis, i.e. the statues of the fifty daughters of Danaus. 

" The magnificence of the interior of the colonnades has been described by 
the poets and historians of the time with great admiration. Pillars of giallo 
antico supported the roof, and between them stood hundreds of statues. Taci- 
tus mentions those of the famous orators of Rome; Ovid and Propertius speak 
of statues of the fifty Danai'des and fifty sons of Aegyptus." — BURN, Rome and 
the Campagna. 

femina, for fe?ninea or fe7ninai A um i a curious use. Pe. turba, the 

children. — 5. Hertzberg places vs. 5-8 at the end of the elegy, on the 
ground that the same statue is here described as in v. 15. Pe. adopts the 
same order as the only natural one, describing first the outside portico, 
then the exterior of the temple and its doors, and then the interior, the 
statue, and the altar. Palmer and Py. retain the Ms. order. The latter 
remarks that it " is sufficiently justified by the haste and brevity of what 
was perhaps little better than an extempore composition. In truth, the 
four verses in question do not harmonize in continuation with v. 16." 
Hie, i.e. the statue, equidem. Notice this rare use of this particle with 
the third person. — 6. The mouth is open as in singing ; hence the pro- 
priety of carmen liiare. Py. See Lex., s. Hio i II, B. This statue is said 



v.] Propertius. 221 

to have been the work of Scopas. — 8. artifices, skilfully wrought. See 
Lex., s. v. II, B. — 9. claro, i.e. bright, polished, marmore. See I, 2, 
note. The exact site of this celebrated temple is nowhere clearly inti- 
mated in the ancient authors ; but it must have stood at the northeast 
side of the Palatine, between the arch of Titus and the temple of Vesta. 
It was surrounded with porticos, one of them containing the Bibliothecae 
Graeca et Latina, in which were the busts of distinguished authors, a 
colossal bronze statue of Augustus, and many precious works of art. The 
temple itself was of solid white marble, with ivory-sculptured doors, and 
contained statues of Latona and Diana and the famous Apollo Citharoedus 
and other choice works of art. — 10. et patria Ortygia, even than his 
native Ortygia, i.e. than the temple in Delos. Py. — 1 1. In quo erat. 
So the Mss. Hertzberg reads Et duo erant, proving from ancient exam- 
ples that the figures above the pediment were two, one on each side of the 
highest point, i.e. on the acroteria, which were pedestals for statues in this 
position. See Rh., s. v. — 12. Libyci . . . opus, sculptured in ivory. — 
13. altera Gallos, sc. pingebat. It represented the retreat of the Gauls 
under Brennus from the temple at Delphi (which they attempted to plun- 
der), scared by earthquakes and a thunder storm, B.C. 279. — 14. maere- 
bat, i.e. represented the sad scene of the death of Niobe's children, slain 
by Apollo and Diana, f unera, the dead children ; or, the deaths in her 
family. Pe. Cf. Catull. XIII, &$. — 15. Deinde, i.e. after passing 
through the portico, inter interque. The repetition of the preposition 
is not strictly logical, but lends a certain emphasis, forcing us to think of 
both Latona and Diana, separately. Pe. M. 470. inter matrem, etc. 
The god stands between Latona and Diana, wearing the palla, or long 
dress, peculiar to the citharaedi. Py. 



V. 

Explanation of the poet's preference for elegiac over epic 
poetry, his claim to distinction as the earliest imitator of Callim- 
achus and Philetas, and his expectation of enduring fame from his 
verse. 

I. sacra Philetae, ye sacred rites of Philetas. By invoking the spirit 
of Callimachus, Propertius shows that the rites meant are those offered to 
the dead. Py. Pe. disputes this interpretation and remarks : " sacra, which 
means any sacred things, i.e. a victim, sacrifice, the penates, etc., is here 



222 Notes. [v. 

applied to the disembodied spirit, which was propitiated with offerings. 
The use is the less surprising as a poet is sacer even in his lifetime." 

— 2. nemus, the grove whence you drew your inspiration, and which is 
now haunted by your presence. Pe. vestrum nemus, i.e. the grove in 
which you are celebrated. He represents himself as a priest, and ad- 
dresses the sacred rites and sacred grove of Philetas of Cos, asking to be 
allowed admittance thereto; instead of the ordinary expression ' O Philetas, 
admit me to your sacred rites.' Py. — 3. ingredior, used with reference 
to nemus. puro de fonte, i.e. drinking inspiration from an untouched 
spring. Pr. — 4. orgia. Cf. Catull. XIII, 259 and note. In orgia and 
choros (= modos) the metaphor is continued from sacra : to convey 
Italian mysteries in Greciaii rhythms, or conduct in Grecian style the 
worship of Hand's muse. The rites (i.e. the subjects of his poems) will 
be national; the music or measures to which they will be set are Greek. 
Pr. per, not unfrequently used for inter. Py. Cf. I, 21, 7; IV, 14, 5; 

V, 4, 20. Pe. insists that per cannot be so used, and translates: to 
lead the mystic emblems of Italy through the dances of Greece, ferre, 
depends on ingredior. For this Grecism, the use of the infinitive for the 
supine in poetry, cf. T, I, 12; 6, 33 ; 21 (20), 24; III, 7, 17; IV, 1, 3 ; 
Hor. 0. I, 2, 7 ; and see M. 411, Obs. 3. — 5. pariter, side by side. 
carmen tenuastis, spin your verse fine, polish your lines, as opposed to 
the rough and bold sounds of the heroic foot. Py. quo in antro, " in 
what grotto of the Muses." — 6. pede, "gait, movement of the feet ; with 
an allusion to the sense of metre, rhythm ; one of a number of instances 
of either a confusion or more strictly a non-differentiation of the literal and 
metaphorical meaning, or a more or less conscious play upon words." Pe. 
ingressi, did you gain entrance, sc. to the sacred grove of v. 2. Pr. 
quam . . . aquam, from what inspiring fount did you drink. Py. — 
7. Phoebum ... in armis, i.e. applies himself exclusively to heroic poetry. 

— 8. tenui,y£;z£ for refining, properly of the result, and not the agent. 
Cf. Hor. Ep. I, 19, 18, exsangue cuminum. Pe. exactus pumice, refers 
metaphorically to the character of the composition. Cf. Catull. I, 2 ; 

VI, 8, Let that verse be elegiac, by -which fame is to raise me aloft. — 9. le- 
vat. Propertius is not careful about the distinction of the indicative and 
subjunctive. Pe. a me nata Musa, i.e. a style of poetry originating 
from me. — n. Amores, sc. whom he celebrated in elegiac measure. — 
12. scriptorum turba, i.e. ififerior poets ; or, imitators. Pe. secuta, 
sc. vectatur, to be supplied from vectantur. — 13. certatis, sc. O scrip- 
torum turba. The metaphor is suddenly changed to the race course. 
missis, usuallv immissis. — 14. currere, a Greek infinitive for the more 
usual currentibus or currendi. lata via, implies the attempt to pass his 



v.] Proper this, 223 

chariot. " The road to poetic fame is narrow ; you cannot get before me 
without a collision." Py. — 15. laudes = warlike valor. With it is con- 
trasted pace, v. 17. — 16. finem, etc., i.e. it will reach as far as Bactra. 
Bactra futura, alludes to the expedition against the Parthians, in B.C. 20, 
already planned at this time. — 18. intacta, untrodden before ; -antithetic 
to Multi, v. 15. — 19. Mollia, the emphatic word of the line and anti- 
thetic to dura ; a soft delicate wreath of myrtle or ivy for the elegiac 
poet, the stiff laurel chaplet for the epic bard. Py. — 20. faciet capiti, 
will not suit my head, a less common idiom than facer e ad. — 21. At, 
etc. The ellipsis is supplied by Py. as follows : " True it is that detractors 
are never wanting when a poet attempts an unbeaten track, yet" etc. — 
23. fingit • • • vetustas, the oldness of things ?nakes them seem greater, 
magnifies them. Pr. vetustas, a prospective-retrospective use, an age to 
come, when the present shall be a distant past. Pe. — 24. ab exequiis, 
after the last rites. — 25. Nam quis, etc., i.e. For, if poetry did not long 
survive the poefs death, who, etc. Py. equo pulsas, overthrown through 
the stratagem of the horse. Pr. But pulsas shows that the Trojan horse is 
here regarded as a kind of battering-ram. Pe. — 26. Haeinonio viro, i.e. 
Achilles assailed by the rivers Xanthus (or Scamander) and Simois. — 
27. Idaeum Simoenta. The Ida of Troas is here confounded with the 
Mt. Ida of Crete, which according to the legend was the birthplace of 
Jove. — 28. Instead of per, the Ms. reading, Pe. adopts the conjecture ter, 
and remarks that " the canons of interpretation will not allow of tr actum 
being supplied." — 29. Polydamanta . . . arniis, an emendation adopted 
by several editors for the Ms. reading Polydamantes in armis. — 30. vix, 
sc. had he not been celebrated in song. — 31. exiguo sermone, little 
talked of, a bold extension of the ablat. of description, sermone the exter- 
nal fact being put for the quality fama. Pe. See M. 272, Obs. 3. — 
32. bis capta, sc. once by Hercules under Laomedon, afterwards by an 
arrow of Hercules with which Philoctetes slew Paris. Kuinoel. numine, 
by the divine power of Pe. — ^- ^ ec non > i- e - as we ^ as n ^ s heroes. 
casus, fall. — 34. posteritate, apparently an ablat. of means : through 
posthtunous lapse of time, opposed to vetustate. Pe. — 36. ilium diem, 
i.e. when I shall be thus praised. Pr. — 37. The emphasis is on con- 
tempto sepulcro. Pr. — ^- provisum est, sc. a me. IJycio . . . 
deo, i.e. Apollo sanctioning niy prayer. Pr.; an allusion, as some have 
supposed, to the admission of his poems into the Palatine library. — 
39. nostri, emphatic, = such as befits me, i.e. songs of love which he had 
spoken of in the earlier part of the elegy as his particular province. Pr. 
orbem, the ordinary course ; the round, a metaphor from the circus ring. 
Pe. — 40. tacta, impressed. 



224 Notes. [vi. 



VI. 

The immortality of genius. 

In the judgment of many editors this is a continuation of the 
preceding elegy. 

I. detinuisse, arrested. — 2. sustinuisse, kept back. — 3. Thebas 
• . . artem, drawn by his mtisic to Thebes. — 6. rorantes equos, sea- 
horses, attendant on the ocean nymphs. — 9. Quod, As to the fact that. 
See A. 333, a; G. 525; H. 516, 2, note. Py. supplies an ellipsis: hoc 
qiridem nihil est. Taenariis. The Taenarian marble was verde antico 
or green porphyry. Becker's G alius, p. 16. — 10. camera . . . eburna 
trabes, an ivory (or ivory-white) ceiling intersected with gilded beams. 
Cf. Hor. O. II, 18, 1. — 11. nee mea . . . silvas, and that I have no 
orchards to vie with the Phaeacian plantations. Py. — 12. operosa rigat 
antra, represents artificial grottos of mine. Marcius liquor, the aque- 
duct of Q. Marcius Rex, the purest water in Rome ; built B.C. 144. Some 
arches of it are still standing. — 14. defessa choris, wearying herself to 
take part, etc. Propertius represents himself as tiring out the Muses in 
the dance. Pr. Calliopea, often taken by the poets as the representative 
of the Nine. — 15. The Mss. and editors vary between est and es. — 
17. sumptus, the lavish pile. — 18. lovis Elei domus, the famous 
temple of Jupiter Olympus at Pisa, in Elis, in which was the magnificent 
colossal statue of the god by Phidias, caelum imitata, star-spangled. 
— 19. dives fortuna, the gorgeoics state, a poetic paraphrase for the tomb 
itself. Pr. The tomb of Mausolus, King of Caria, erected by his queen 
Artemisia in B.C. 353, was celebrated as one of the seven wonders of the 
world. It was destroyed, but has been partly recovered by modern 
research. Py. — 23. ab, is expressed, because excidet is equivalent to 
extinguetnr, and aevo is regarded as agent rather than instrument. Py. 

" Devouring fire and rains will mar their splendour — 
The weight of years will drag the marble down : 
Genius alone a name can deathless render, 
And round the forehead wreathe the unfading crown." 

— Cranstoun. 






vn., viii.] Propertius. 225 



VII. 

The poet predicts success to the expedition of Augustus against 
the Parthians, B.C. 20, and pictures the triumph of the emperor. 

1. ad Indos, i.e. usque ad. — 2. gemmiferi maris, i.e. the Indian 
ocean. — 3. viri, sc. who take part in the expedition. — 5. sera, sed, 
i.e. ultima terra sera fiet provincia, sedfiet ta?nen, etc. Lachm. — 7. ex- 
pertae bello, tried in war, alludes to the victory at Actium. — 8. niu- 
nus equi, probably refers to the horses provided at the public expense 
for the Equites. Hertzberg. — 9. Crassos clademque, hendiadys; the 
defeat of the Crassi, father and son, B.C. 53. — 11. sacrae . . . Vestae, 
i.e. Vesta, goddess of the sacred fire, which contains the destinies of Rome. 
Py. — 13. oneratos axes. So the Mss. and most editors. Py. with 
others adopts the emendation of Muretus, onerato axe, on the ground of 
the omission of et in the next line. — 15. braccati miiitis, i.e. the Par- 
thians who wore the wide Persian trousers. — 16. et . . . duces. Effigies 
are meant, placed beneath lofty trophies. Py. — 17. hoc caput, i.e. 
Augustus, sit in aevum = vivat. 



VIII. 



The folly of encountering the perils of war for glory or riches. 
The poefs preference in youth for love-poetry, and in maturer years 
for the study of philosophy and the problems of the future life. 

2. stant — durant, non facile dirimuntur. — 3. nee tamen, etc., 
i.e. yet though I am compelled to wage war, it is not from avarice. — 
3. carpitur = vexatur, sollicitatur. — 4. gemma, either for pocuhun 
gemmatum, or a goblet worked out of a single piece of opal, jasper, or 
chalcedony. Py. nostra sitis, for sitiens ego, a metonymy frequent in 
Propertius. Pr. — 6. clade tua, obtaiiied by your destruction. The allu- 
sion is to the pillage of the works of art in Corinth by the consul Mummius, 
B.C. 146. — 7. prima terra, pri?nal clay. Cf. Ilor. O. I, xvi, 13: 
principi limo. — 8. parum cauti pectoris, is used in allusion to the 
derivation of the name from irpou-qBia. Prometheus executed the work 
without the care and forethought implied by his name. Py. — 9. mentem 
. • . arte, did not, while engaged in his work, take thought for the mind. Pr. 
— 10. Recta *. .via, The mind's course should first have been made 



226 Notes. [vin. 

straight. — II. Nunc, i.e. Since we were originally fashioned thus ill, no 
wonder we novo are driven over the wide ocean in search of foes , not con- 
tent with repelling attacks at home. Pr. — 14. ad, the Ms. reading, retained 
by many editors, rates. Lachm. defends the plural, from the mention 
of two ferry-boats for the dead in V, vii, 55 : 

" Nam gemina est sedes turpem sortita per amnem, 

Turbaque diversa remigat omnis aqua. 
Una Clytaemnestrae stuprum vehit, altera Cressae 

Portat mentitae lignea monstra bovis. 
Ecce coronato pars altera vecta phaselo, 

Mulcet ubi Elysias aura beata rosas, 
Qua numerosa fides, quaque aera rotunda Cybebes 

Mitratisque sonant Lydia plectra choris." 

Py.'s explanation of the meaning is : " Whereas we now look for fleets 
and voyages for making our fortunes, hereafter we shall be stripped of 
everything, and see only the ships on the infernal river. Thus vehi ad 
rates is simply to be ferried over to the fleet." Pr., following Hertzberg, 
reads at inferna rate, and remarks : " vehere is the natural word for being 
carried in but not carried to the boat. Besides, the preceding line places 
the dead soul at the waters ; the following one must apply to its crossing." 
Py. considers this a very incorrect use of at. Another conjecture is ab in- 
ferna rate. — 1 7. Lydus Dulicliio. Rich and famous Lydia is contrasted 
with the poor little island of Dulichium. — 18. Parcae acta, the emen- 
dation of Lachm., adopted by Jacob, Keil, and Muller ; death brought on 
by the ordinary course of nature in the day of destiny, not by rash enter- 
prises of war in quest of spoil, etc. Cf. IX. 30 : Ista per humanas mors 
venit acta mantis ; Virg. Aen.Xl, 150: Par caru?nqtie dies. Py. considers 
Parcae die "scarcely good Latin for fatali die, much, of the difficulty lying 
in the use of the singular," and reads parca die, in the day of poverty, and 
apta, i.e. appropriate and wished for, to relieve you from your poverty. 
Most Mss. read parta, some of them parca. — 21. mentem vincire, to 
enchain (not captives with fetters, but) my own senses. Pr. — 22. caput 
in habere rosa, i.e. to be crowned with roses. — 25. turn, emphatic, 
then and not till then. — 26. Notice the singular alternation of the sub- 
junctive with the indicative in this and the following lines, as in Persius, 
Sat. Ill, 66 et seqq. mundi domum, used for the heavens, as often in 
Lucretius and Ovid. — 27. qua, sc. ratione, or, by what course or direction. 
venit, sc. tuna, deficit, sets. — 29. salo, a local ablative ; '• how rising 
winds the face of ocean sweep." Gray, quid captet, what it aims at. Py. — 
30. in nubes . . . aqua, supplies of water to the clouds from year to year. 
Pr. — 31. sit, sc. utrum. — 32. It was the belief that the rainbow drew 
up water from the lakes, rivers, and sea to return it in the Shape of rain. 



ix.] Propertius. 227 

Cf. Tibull. I, 4, 44; Virg. 6W£\ I, 380. — 33. The Perrhaebi occupied 
the mountainous district between Pindus and the lower course of the 
Peneos. — 34. luxerit, from lugeo. — 35. serus versare, late in turn- 
ing. Cf. Catull. LXVI, 67; tardiwi Booten. For the construction see 
A. 273, d\ G. 424, 4; H. 533, II, 3, note 2. — 36. spisso coit igne, 
" blend in mazy light." — 41. aut . . . furiae, sc. utrum sint. Alcmaeon 
was said to be haunted by the Furies for having murdered his mother 
Eriphyle. Phinei, a king of Arcadia punished for cruelty to his sons, by 
the Harpies taking away or spoiling every meal. His punishment extended 
to the world below. — 44. et . . . novem, sc. nwn sint. pauca, too few. 



IX. 

An elegy on the death of a young friend, Paetus, drowned on a 
voyage to Alexandria, undertaken for some mercantile purpose ; 
which gives the poet an opportunity to inveigh against the avarice 
of man. 

" One of the most beautiful poems of Propertius. The pathos is only 
equalled by the elegance of the versification." — PALEY. 

I. Ergo, is frequently used in outbursts of indignation and complaint. 
Pr. — 3. crudelia, i.e. because it causes their destruction. — 4. de 
capite tuo 9 from thee. A part is put for the whole. — 5. tendentem 
lintea, with canvas spread, suggests a smooth course and a favoring 
wind. Pe. — 7. primo excidit aevo, lost his young life. Cf. VI, 23. — ■ 
8. nova, i.e. an unexpected banquet. Pe. natat, used of floating corpses 
and wrecks. — 9. iusta, a substantive. See Lex., s. v. II, B, 2. piao 
terrae, is taken by some as a genitive, referring to the sprinkling of earth 
over the corpse, the well-known mark of pietas ; with iusta debita, the 
right tribute of respectful dust. By others it is regarded as a dative, = her 
soil's dead body. Properly speaking, the mother would pay iusta debita 
piis manibus. Here the dead are associated with the earth in which they 
are buried. — 10. pote, is used as a direct predicate without the verb. 
Roby, I, 725. Here it is not neuter, but stands for poti. cognatos ro- 
gos, a hypallage of the adjective, very common in P. — 13. Infelix. Cf. 
VIII, 7, and see Lex., s. v. II, B, for the meaning, timor, cause of fear. 
— 14. illo, sc. Paetus. tanta, i.e. to excuse such cruelty. — 15. quid- 
nam, why, pray, more emphatic and colloquial than quid. Pe. — 
16. sanctos, i.e. not deserving shipwreck for any wickedness. — 17. quid 
• . . numeras, i.e. why complain of premature death. — 18. non . . . 



228 Notes, [ix. 

deos, sc. to hear your prayers. — 19. Nam introduces the proof of the 
preceding statement : For, if there had been gods of the sea, the vessel would 
not have been wrecked, ad saxa ligata vincula. The vessels had been 
moored 'for the night, by cables, to rocks on the shore. — 20. detrito, worn 
away with the chafing. — 21. Sunt, There are ; absolute. Pe. — 22. quae 
. . . Atliamantiadae, a conjecture of Hertzberg, and adopted by Keil, 
Haupt, and Miiller. Other editors retain the Ms. reading, quae . . . mi- 
nantis aquae, or change to natantis aqtca or aquas. Some also read natat 
= natavit, for notat. Ellis proposes Mimantis aquas, " which would fix 
the scene of Paetus' shipwreck at that part of the coast of Lydia where the 
land, which contracts into a narrow neck between Clazomenae on the 
north and Teos on the south, again broadens out into a rocky peninsula 
with three bold promontories, Corycium south, Argennum southwest, and 
Malaena north. All these are projections of Mount Mimas." "This con- 
jecture seems worthy of careful consideration, both from the number of 
the places on the Asiatic coast in which the name Argvnnzts, Arginntis, 
Argennos is traceable, and because Propertius is given to following 
obscure and out-of-the-way versions of the old legends." Cranstoun. notat 
= infamat. — 23, 24. These lines seem to point to the other legend of the 
death of Argynnus, which represented him as lost while swimming in the 
Cephissus in Boeotia. Ellis thinks that the original legend was connected 
with the Boeotian coast ; that it subsequently extended to the opposite side 
of the Aegean, and that Propertius, who had heard the story connected 
with both localities, indicates in these two lines, somewhat awkwardly, the 
connection. He paraphrases the four lines thus : " Paetus was wrecked on 
the coast, which retains the name of the lost Argynnus, that youth whom 
Agamemnon vainly sought to discover, and kept the fleet at Aulis waiting 
in the hope of doing so — a delay which caused the death of Iphigenia." — 
25. Reddite, sc. Aquilo and Neptune. Cf. vs. 13, 15. corpus, the body 
despoiled of life. Pe. — 26. sponte tua, i.e. as there are no friends at 
hand to do it. — 28. timor. See v. 13, note. — 29. texite, fabricate, 
appropriately used of ships, causas, i.e. things that cause death. — 
30. ista mors, i.e. that death which you provoke, acta, used of impel- 
ling ships. — 32. fortunae, sc. in addition to those already prepared for 
us by Chance, miseras, leading to misery. — ^. A play upon words : 
teneat, literally, keep its hold on you, i.e. on your ship ; tenuere, meta- 
phorically, kept you fro?n wandering. Pe. — 34. sua, i.e. his proper 
element. — 37. insidians, emphatic, for the very purpose of ensnaring. — 
39. triunipnales, a proleptic use, going to a triumph; i.e. when almost 
home and on the eve of success. Nauplius, king of Euboea, in revenge 
for his son Palamedes, lighted false fires on the Greeks' return from Troy 






ix.] Properties. 229 

and so decoyed them on to the rocks of Caphareus. — 40. tracta, either 
for distracta, scattered, or drawn, sucked in by the vasty deep. Pr. salo, 
probably an ablat. of place, possibly one of means. Pe. — 41. Paullatim, 
to be taken with iacturam. — 42. soliti, i.e. usually successful. — 43. pa- 
trio = pater no. verteret, had conthiued to plow. See A. 308, a ; G. 
599, Rem. 1 ; H. 510, note 2. — 44. verba mea, i.e. those which I now 
titter. — 45. viveret, he would be now living to feast. — 46. flare, a cor- 
rection adopted by Jacob, JHIertzberg, and others : where wind has no 
power. Py. regards this emendation as ingenious and probable, yet calls 
it a strange expression, and retains the Ms. reading, ftere, where he can 
have nought to weep, as giving a simple and satisfactory sense. Pe. thinks 
potest is corrupt, posset being required, and thinks the original reading 
was sat est. — 47. Xon tulit, could not bear. Pe. ; had not to endure. Py. 
hie, pointing him out as a warning. Pe. ; here, i.e. while on land. Py. 

— 49. sed, etc. From the negative 11011 tuiit must be supplied some 
phrase of an opposite meaning, such as frui licebat. Hertzb. Chio, with 
Chian furniture. So the Mss., and Keil retains it. Many editors have 
adopted the reading Thyio, a Latinized adjective from 6va or Ovia.; with 
thalamo, 071 a bed made of wood fro7ii the citrtis tree. For thalamo in 
this sense cf. Ill, 7, (6), 14. Pe. This wood was chiefly used for tables and 
couches. Others read Thyiae, the supposed name of Paetus' wife ; with 
thalamo, in Thyia's chamber. Oricia terebinth.©, i.e. a couch of it, the 
substance being put for the object made of it, as often. Pe. Cf. Virg. Ae7t. 
X, 136: quale per arte77i inclusum buxo aut Oricia terebi7itho lucet ebur. 

— 50. fultum, sc. erat ; with pluma, propped up with cushions of feather 
tapestry, Pe. See Becker's Gallus, p. 289. versieolore, changing color 
like shot silk; the literal meaning. Pe. — 51-54: a mention of several 
causes which conspired to drown Paetus. Huie, i.e. Such was he from 
whose fi7igers, etc. Pr. vivo, i.e. adhuc spiranti. — 52. hiatus, the ope7i 
mouth. — 53. vidit, looked 071 at, a very vivid use. Pe. improba, piti- 
less. — 55. tamen, sc. in spite of the distress painted in the preceding 
lines. Pe. — 56. clauderet ora, i.e. was choking him. — 58. quae- 
cumque, perhaps, every passi7zg wave, degravat, causes to si7ik, -weighs 
heavy 071. Pe. — 59. tenerae, though in most of the editions, is thought 
by Pe. and Palmer to be without authority fox primae. lanuginis, geni- 
tive of description, years whose mark is, etc. Pe. — 60. longas manus. 
Long tapering hands were a sign of youth and beauty. So Hertzberg un- 
derstands longas as = pidcras, which Py. calls a very weak meaning for 
this peculiar and (to him) obscure expression, and inclines to Barth's view 
that it == t7itegras a7itea, in allusion to v. 51. — 61. alcyonum, i.e. -where 
the kingfishers build. — 62. in me, agai7ist 7ne. — 63. Italiae regioni- 



230 Notes. [x. 

bus, indefinite plural, some district of Italy ; with advehat, cast me ashore 
at, etc. Pe. — 64. Py. paraphrases as follows : sat miki erit, si hoc, quod de 
me restat, matris erit ; i.e. si corpus in matris manus veniet. — 65. 

" Sucked down by eddying waves he spake no more — 
These his last words, and that his latest day. 
Ye hundred Nereid-nymphs who scour the main, 
And, Thetis, thou who'st felt a mother's woe! 
Ye should have raised his drooping chin again, 
So light a load your hands had failed to know." — CRANSTOUN. 



A reply to the request of Maecenas that he would write on his- 
torical subjects and in heroic verse. With many graceful compli- 
ments he declines to attempt such themes unless his patron will 
accept the high offices of State, which have been offered to him. 

I. Etrusco . . . regum. Cf. Hor. O, I, i, I : atavis edite regibus. — 

2. intra, i.e. who take less than your fortune entitles you to. Pe. — 

3. scribendi aequor, a sea of writing. This use of a word denoting 
space with a verbal noun is perhaps unparalleled in Latin. Pe. — 5. quod 
nequeas, sc. ferre. — 6. dare terga, to give in, yield to the burden. 
See Lex., s. tergum II, A, 2. — 7. omnia rerum, sc. genera. — 8. The 
reading of the text is the one preferred by some of the highest authorities. 
Other readings are numerous. Py., after Kuinoel, explains aequo by pari 
and renders : you must have no rival, no yoke fellow attached to the sa7?ie 
car, and adds : "The metaphor of the yoke seems so appropriate in itself and 
so naturally suggested by the epithet, that it certainly would have suggested 
itself to the mind of a reader." Pe. takes ex aequo iugo in the sense of 
from level yokes, like those of two charioteers ; i.e. you cannot get any glory 
out of a race in which you do not distance your competitor. Lachm. takes 
these words to mean a gentle hill, and cites v. 10, 4 ; and Hertzb., the same 
hill as any other. 

9-16. Illustrations of what he has just said from the most famous artists 
of antiquity, animosa, spirited, life-like. Lysippo, of Sicyon, the cele- 
brated worker in bronze. — 10. Calamis, a contemporary of Phidias, was 
chiefly renowned for the finish of his equestrian statuary, mini, ethical 
dative; with se iactat, commends hi?nself to my taste. — 11. Veneris 
tabula, the celebrated picture of Venus rising from the sea. summam 
• . • ponit, lit. places . his highest effort, i.e. regards as his masterpiece. Py. 



x.] Properties. 231 

— 12. Parrhasius, a younger contemporary of Zeuxis. parva arte, 
i.e. a skill exercised on small subjects. Pe. Cf. Pliny, Nat. Hist. XXXV, 
10, 36. Py. thinks it may also include a careful attention to minute details, 
for which he was noted. His miniatures, however, were not his most 
characteristic works, locum, sc. inter summos pictores. — 13. argu- 
menta, subjects involving groups. See Lex., s. v. II, B. magis, more 
than others, especially. Mentoris, the most famous silver-chaser among 
the Greeks. He wrought entire histories of events or persons, in a series 
of groups, round gold and silver cups or bowls, forniae, mould or shape. 
Moulds were used in the processes of caelatura, the object being roughly 
cast and then finished with the caelum or graver. These caelator^s smaller 
moulds (as well as those of the statuary) were called for ma e. Pe. sunt 
addita, i.e. are ' an adjunct ' of the forma, they naturally go with it; a 
curious use. Pe. — 14. Mys was also a toreutic artist, a contemporary of 
Parrhasius. exiguum flectit iter, curves in short and delicately crisp 
foliage, sc. round the handles of vases and goblets. Py. — 15. Phidiacus, 
an emphatic predicate, at the bidding, for the art of Phidias. Propertius 
often throws the stress of the sentence upon a single word. Pe. se ornat, 
equips, arrays magnificently \ a Propertian idiom = omatur. Pe. calls it 
a new passive-middle, and adds : " there is an idea of spontaneity about 
this, == naturally clothes himself" luppiter, i.e. Phidias' conception of 
Zeus. Cf. Cic. Oral. 2, 9. " But the expression also carries something of 
the meaning of the real Zeus, the original. He is not loth to be thus 
exhibited ; he is himself a consenting party. The fundamental idea which 
runs through the line is that it is hard to tell whether the god is there in 
person or in representation, the ideal is so fully realized." Pe. — 16. Praxi- 
telen, the distinguished Athenian sculptor, who flourished about 350 B.C. 
propria urbe, ablat. of origin, with lapis, seems to refer to the Pentelic 
marble, of which his most famous works were made ; the stone of his native 
city maintains the clai?n of Praxiteles to renown. — 17. Est quibus, 
a bold and perhaps unique Grecism. Py. concurrit, accompanies. See 
Lex., s. v. I, A, 2, b. But it gives also the idea of racing. Pe. — 18. in 
celeres pedes, lit. for their swiftness of foot ; i.e. whom glory was destined 
to await in the foot-race. — 20. semina, i.e. the tendencies implanted in 
his nature. Cf. Cic. Lael. 5, 19. — 21. tua vitae praecepta, your rule 
ox plan of life. — 22. exemplis tuis, argtunents (as to my choice of sub- 
jects for poetry) drawn from your own conduct. Pe. superare, to refute, 

— 23. The force of Cum, although, extends to v. 29, where the principal 
clause of the sentence begins. Romano in honore, in a Roman curule 
magistracy. With dominas secures, i?nperial axes, ' sumere should 
probably be supplied, though the phrase may be connected with ponere 



232 Notes. [x. 

(used in a literal sense, to plant), by zeugma. Py. — 24. ponere iura, to 
lay down the law, used here of those who have supreme authority to legislate 
for others. Py. — 25. Medorum hostes, i.e. probably the Parthians, who 
conquered them. Py. This, the Ms. reading, is considered by some editors 
corrupt, and various emendations have been suggested, to all of which 
serious objections have been raised. — 26. fixa per arma — fixis armis. 
— 27. ad effectum, to work your will, i.e. for the accomplishment of 
your aims. Pe. — 28. tarn faciles, easily flowing, coming at your call. Pe. 
insinuentur, in sinum tuum fundantur. See Lex., s. v. I, B, 1. — 
29. parcis, your refrain, tenues in umbras, into a humble retire- 
ment. — 31. ista iudicia, this resolve of yours. — t>Z- famae, path of 
fa??ie. tenebis, hold firmly, keep firm footing. Pe. — 34. erunt, plural 
by attraction, vera tropaea, used with an allusion to v. 26. Pe. fides, 
loyalty to Augustus. — 36. tota. So Jacob and others after most Mss. 
Many editors read tuta. sub . . . flumine. A metaphor taken from 
anchoring near the mouth of a river, into which one may run for shelter in 
a storm. Py. — yj. sedisse, sank, paternos — patrios. Hertzb. Cf. 
Hor. O. I, xx, 5. Pe. thinks this is "unintelligibly harsh if it is under- 
stood metaphorically, and absurd if construed literally," and by the aid of 
a passage in Statius' Thebaid (3, 184) explains paternos cineres as " the 
ashes resulting from Zeus' fatherhood or caused by Zeus, then a father, and 
as referring to the birth of Dionysus, which Propertius elsewhere calls 
mater?ios Aetnaeo fulmine partus." — 38. septem. So Hertzb., Keil, 
Miiller, and Jacob ; i.e. at the seven gates of Thebes, in which the six 
leaders on each side were slain (clade pari). Pe. objects to this reading 
as a statement contrary to fact, with Py., retains sei?iper, and takes proelia 
as the indefinite plural, referring to the single combat of Eteocles and 
Polynices. — 39. Scaeas, sc. portas. Apollinis, i.e. built by him and 
Neptune for Laomedon. — 41. pressit aratro, i.e. brought it about that, 
etc. — 44. Coe, i.e. Philetas of Cos. Cf. V, I ; the reading of Lachmann, 
Palmer, and others. Py., Pe. and some others have Dore, from the dure 
of the Mss. — 45. Te duce, i.e. praeewite, when you set me the example. 
Wr. — 46. Oroniedonta, the king of the giants ; corrected by Hertzb. to 
Eurymedonta. — 48. ordiar, set about describmg. firma — firmata. — 
49. silvestri ex ubere, i.e. suckled by the she-wolf. — 50. crescet, etc., 
i.e. altius ascendet, donee sub tua iussa venerit ut Caesaris res gestas 
canat. Pr. • — 51. prosequar, sc. carmine, utroque ab litore, i.e. from 
the extreme East to the extreme West, the whole Roman empire. Cf. Virg. 
Georg. Ill, 33. — 52. remissa, backward shot or showered, fugae, a 
genitive, and == subdole fiigientiu?7i. Pe. thinks the meaning of the phrase 
may be, the arrows cease to be strained on the bow. — 53. castra, fortress 



xi.] Propertius. 233 

ox garrison. — 55. Mollis, kind, iuventae, my youthful career. Pe. — 

56. inmissis rotis, when ??iy car is in full career. A metaphor from 
the Circus, where the drivers received signs of encouragement (signa) 
from the spectators and partizans of the factions. See Ry., p. 349. — 

57. Hoc laudis concedis, i.e. So much reputation your example allows 
me. Pe. a te est, it is owing to your example. — 58. quod ferar, etc., 
that I shall be said to have joined your side, i.e. to have taken the part of 
humility like yourself. Py., who thus interprets these concluding verses : 
" Though disinclined to write historical poems, still if you my patron insist 
upon it, and will engage to regard them favorably, if unequal to your 
expectations, I will consent." 



XL 

To Postumus, a friend, engaged in an expedition to the East, 
who had left a faithful wife at home to mourn his absence. 

3. spoliati, used aoristically, the action being contemplated as prospec- 
tively accomplished. Hertzb. — 4. ne faceres depends on rogante; i.e. 
that you should fail to heed the entreaties of your Galla, begging that you 
would not leave her. — 5. Si fas est, sc. to use this expression. — 8. The 
mention of the Araxes, of the Parthians, in v. 3, and of the Medians in v. 1 1, 
seems to indicate that the expedition referred to in this elegy was against 
the Parthians. Those who believe it to have been against the Arabians 
explain Araxis by assuming that it was a kind of typical river with Pro- 
pertius, or that he knew but little of the geography of Asia; but there is no 
evidence that either of these assumptions is true. — 10. ne fiat, sc. metuens. 
— 12. cataphractus, sc. laetetur, on which the ablative equo depends. 
aurato, i.e. the gilded trappings of his more luxurious but less hardy 
opponent. Py. — 16. moribus his, i.e. a character so lacking in affection. 
alia . . . eras, you did not deserve such a wife. — 17. timore, sc. of a 
husband. — 18. luxuriae . . . suae, the instructress of others in its own 
profligacy. — 25-37 : The journeyings and adventures of Ulysses from the 
siege of Troy till his return to Ithaca, mons, Calpe, the reading of the 
best Mss. adopted by Jacob, and by Hertzb., who thinks Propertius did not 
follow Homer (or other accounts now lost) but Philetas, and that the latter 
may have included Gibraltar in the wanderings of Ulysses. Py. follows 
other editors in reading manus capta, on the ground that the following 
incidents are wholly from the Odyssey, that the fight with the Cicones and 
the capture of their city Ismara are actually recorded (Od. IX, 38), and 



234 Notes. [xn. 

that Calpe seems utterly out of place in speaking of the Thracians and 
the Cyclops — both among the subjects of the ninth Book. — 27. tenaces, 
i.e. keeping them away from their homes. Py. — 2S. alternas . . . 
aquas, "where lashed and lashing waves alternate split." Cranstoun. — 
31, Aeaeae puellae probably refers to Calypso. See Lex., s. Aeaeus, II. 

— 35. renovasse, to have used again. See Lex., s. v.I y I. The infinitives 
in this sentence all depend on non ille nocuit, to be supplied from v. 24. 

— 37. Nee frustra, sc. non nocuere or haec omnia perpessus est. Py. 



XII. 

On the death of Marcellus, the son of C. Ckudius Marcellus and 
Octavia (the sister of Augustus) at Baiae, B.C. 23 ; to whose mem- 
ory also are the well-known lines in Virgil's Aeneid (VI, 860, seqq.). 

I. Clausus, divided by a strip of land about a mile in width, from 
Avernus, a deep fresh-water lake, (the crater of an extinct volcano) whose 
steep sides were once covered with dark woods (umbroso), giving a 
gloomy and dismal aspect to it. ludit, chafes and ripples, aptly said of 
the quiet sportive motion of waters protected from winds. Pr. pontus, 
here the Liurine lake, a shallow salt-water lagoon, (situated at the inmost 
point of the deep bay between Puteoli and Baiae) which extended nearly 
to Baiae and so identified here, in a manner, with the hot sulphur-springs of 
that watering place. — 2. stagna is in apposition with it. So Py. Pe. and 
others take pontus in its usual sense, the outer sea, and stagna, as — the 
Lucrine lake, in loose apposition to the previous line. — 3. qua, to be 
taken with harena. 

The famous Julian harbor was constructed by Agrippa in B.C. 37, by 
cutting a canal across the Via Herculis into the Lucrine lake and uniting 
that lake with the Avernian, by cutting another canal through the inter- 
vening ridge. See Merivale, Hist, of Rom. E?npire, ch. XXVII ; Diet. 
Geog. II. 212. 

4. Herculeo . . . via, a low and narrow sand-bank or ridge, a mile 
long and wide enough for a carriage to pass over, separating the bay of 
Naples from the Lucrine lake, according to tradition, made by Hercules. 
Agrippa widened and strengthened it against the sea, apparently by facing 
it with masonry, sonat, resounds, sc. with the rippling or dashing of the 
sea. — 5. mortalis, taken by Hertzb., Py., and Pe. as an accusative; with 
urbes == urbes mortaliam, and with quaereret antithetic to caelum adire 



xii.] Propertius. 235 

implied in deo. Keil, Mtiller, and Wr. regard it as a nominative : while 
yet a mortal, winning cities, etc. To this Hertzb. objects on the ground 
that the very next line speaks of Hercules as deus, not homo, and that he 
was at all events not mortalis, even in the condition of homo on earth. 
dextra, with the might of his arm. — 6. Thebano deo, Hercules, (not 
Bacchus) as born and worshipped at Thebes. There was a close connec- 
tion between the worship of these two deities. But the legendary exploits 
of Hercules were much more associated with this part of Italy (than those 
of Dionysus), and from them Herculaneum derived its name. He was 
also the patron of hot-springs and hence was additionally honored at 
Baiae. concrepuere, clashed together. The meaning of the line is that 
here Hercules was met by the emblems of peace and festivity. The legend 
is otherwise unknown. Pe. 

Vs. 7 and 8 are parenthetical, — an apostrophe to Baiae which is a 
vocative, — and the apodosis of vs. 1-6 begins with v. 9. — 7. cum, em- 
phatic, not without a grave charge, crimine, sc. of causing Marceilus' 
death. — 8. constitit, as an archer in ambush. Pe. hostis, predicate, sc. 
as if the patron god had abandoned the springs and some noxious deity 
had occupied his place. Py. 

9. his, i.e. stagnis. Py.; these malific influences. Pe. Others refer it 
to Baiae. pressus = oppressus. demisit, agrees with iile which is con- 
trasted all the more strongly with spiritus by its position. Py. Stygias 
. . . undas, he stooped his face i?ito the Stygian wave. Pe. — 10. errat 
spiritus, flits a spirit. Ry. and Py. Pr. renders : breath (parted from 
the body) wanders o'er your lake, on the ground that spiritus in the sense 
of ghost is post-classical. Pe. translates spiritus ille, that ?ioble soul. 
The death of Marceilus was believed to have been caused by the incautious 
or excessive use of the bath, added perhaps to the general effect of the 
climate of Baiae, which was very unwholesome. See Merivale's Hist. 
ch. XXXV. 

11. optima mater, his noble mother, i.e. the nobleness of his mother. 
Xo Roman lady ever deserved this title better than Octavia. Pe. — 12. am- 
plexum . . . focos, refers to the adoption of Marceilus into the Julian 
family, perhaps also to his marriage with Julia the daughter of Augustus. 
Both ceremonies would be performed before the gods of the hearth. — 
13. modo, to be taken with the whole sentence. Pe. vela, the awnings 
over the theatre. The reference is to the magnificent games Marceilus 
exhibited in his curule aedileship, B.C. 23, during which it was said that 
the whole forum was covered with an awning. — 14. per maternas . . . 
manus. Octavia had superintended many of the arrangements on account 
of the illness of her son. — 15. steterat, a bold and very vivid expression, 



22)6 Notes. [xin. 

but in keeping with the general meaning of stare ; time suddenly stopped 
for Mar cell us in his twentieth year. Pe. — 1 6. bona, accomplishments, 
noble qualities, tain • • . orbe, confined to such a narrow field, dies, 
i.e. the brief life of Marcellus. Pr.; time. Pe. "So many virtues his! 
his years so few ! " 

17. I nunc, addressed ironically to any ambitious man or believer in 
human glory. Py. — iS. invent, delight you. — 19. Attalicas vestes, 
with reference to the awnings mentioned in v. 13. — 21. Sed tamen, i.e. 
Death does not single out the illustrious but takes all. Pe. hue, sc. fendi- 
mus. ordo, an allusion to the different ranks as arranged in the theatre. 
— 23. exoranda, to be appeased. — 24. torvi, glowering, publica 
cymba, the skiff that takes all. Pe. — 25. Ille, this (i.e. any) man. Py. 
The reference is vaguely to the context, ' the typical human being.' Pe. — 
26. caput, sc. as representing the body, his life. Pe. — 27. exemit, 
exempted. — 29. Hie luctus, This source of grief i.e. death by pestilence. 
Pe. Py. understands it of the grief of Achilles for the loss of Briseis ; 
which caused the death by war and plague of so many of the Greeks. 
ignaros, i.e. causam mali nescientes, until enlightened by Calchas. — 
30. Atridae, dative. Py.; genitive. Pe. inagno. For the case see 
A. 252; G. 404; H. 422. stetit, sc. Achivis. alter amor, i.e. Aga- 
memnon's passion for Chriseis, preferred, as she was, to his first and law- 
ful love Clytaemnestra. — 31. tibi, sc. Marcellus. nauta, i.e. Charon. — 
32. animae, genitive, with corpus inane, thy body void of breath ; really 
his manes. Pe. The confusion of the soul and the body is very common in 
the Latin poets. — 2>3- <l ua > sc - a g*t or wwV, i.e. in Elysium. Claudius 
Marcellus, the conqueror of Syracuse B.C. 212, and the ancestor of the hero 
of this poem. — 34. ab humana via, by the way common to man, i.e. 
through death. Hertzb.; from the paths or haunts of men. Pe. All agree 
that the precise meaning of this unusual expression is doubtful. Pe. thinks 
it very possible that there may be an allusion to the tombs that lined the 
Via Appia and other roads leading out of Rome, in astra, to be under- 
stood of Julius Caesar alone. 



XIII. 



To Tullus, a friend, who after a year's service as legatus in Asia 
Minor continued to reside there for a considerable time, partly in 
order to visit various places and objects of interest. 

The poet urges him to return to Italy, as containing more beauty 
and interest than all the rest of the world, as the country of his 
ancestors, and as the true field for the display of his abilities. 



xiii.] Propertins. 237 

1. Cyzicus, on the Propontis, famous for the temple of Cybele, built 
by the Argonauts. — 2. qua Unit Isthmos, where the isthmus floats. 
The isthmus was a bridge which joined the island on which the city stood 
with the mainland. — 3. Dindymus, the name of a mountain close to the 
city, famous for the worship of Cybele. fabricata, constructed in honor 
of. Cyt>ebae, a dative, iuvenca. Probably a famous statue of Cybele 
of marble, under this form, at Cyzicus or in a chapel of the temple on Mt. 
Dindymus. — 5. si te forte, etc. The apodosis begins with v. 17. 
Helles, the daughter of Athamas and Nephele, who, riding through the air 
on the ram with a golden fleece, fell into the sea, which took her name. — 
6. meo. See A. 197, a; G. 363, Rem.; H. 396, III, note 2. — 7. At- 
lanta, i.e. the statue of Atlas. — 8. Persea, Herculis, etc., are to be 
understood in the same way. Pr. supposes that actual travels are referred 
to throughout this passage. But wherever that is his meaning he con- 
fines himself to reasonable distances from Cyzicus. Ph.orcid.os, i.e. Me- 
dusa, the daughter of Phorcus. ora, the head. See Lex., s. v. II, B. — 
9. signa, not statues, but vestigia, the marks fancifully supposed to be left 
by the wrestling heroes. Py. — 10. clioros, is here taken by Pr. in the 
sense of the Greek x°P°^i the place for dancing. — II. propellas, cleave. 
— 12. Peliacae traMs. Cf. Catull. XIII, 1. ipse, sc. quod olim 
heroes legebant. legas, you traverse ; with iter, track the course. — 
13. rudis, sc. antea ; with pinus, " the erst untravelled pine." Cranstoun. 
Argoa columba, through the aid of the Ai'goan dove, regarded as the 
instrument by which the vessel floated safely among the rocks. Pr. natat, 
for natavit, a use of the present not uncommon in Propertius. Cf. IV, 
6, 22; V, I, 77, and 121. Pr. But see A. 128, a-, G. 151, I; H. 235. 
saxa, the Symplegades, two rocky islands in the Euxine, floating about, 
dashing together and rebounding. The Argonauts, following the example 
of a dove which they had sent out, for the purpose of determining their 
course by its fate, sailed quickly between these rocky islands, with scarcely 
any injury; and after that the Symplegades were immovable. — 15. sis 
Ortygia. So Haupt, Miiller, and Keil. The reading is doubtful, and 
other editors have si (sc. legas) Ortygiae (a locative), or Orlygii. Orty- 
gia, the ancient name of a grove near Ephesus, connected with the wor- 
ship of Diana and Latona. Py. — 16. qua . . . vias, probably refers to 
the Nile. Py. interprets : " reduces his speed and volume by dividing his 
waters into seven channels." — 19. coimmoda noxae, disposed to harm ; 
explained by v. 21. — 21. pietate, patriotism. — 22. victrices . . . 
manus = ira facile remissa tern per at victoriam. — 23. Hie, sc. in 
Italia. — 24. 3Iarcius humor. See VI, 12, note. — 25. Neniorensis, 
a lake in a dense forest on the lower slope of Mt. Albanus, so called 



238 Notes, [xiv. 

because on its margin was a temple of Diana, the name of which was 
Nemus Dianae. It was near Aricia. socia unda. The two lakes were 
near together, and might, poetically speaking, be said to Row from kindred 
waters. Pr. — 26. lympha, sc, the lacus lutemae, in the Roman forum, 
from which Castor and Pollux were said to have watered their horses after 
the battle of lake Regillus. — 29. pro inatre, i.e. through her mother's 
fault. Andromeda was chained to the rock to be devoured by the sea- 
monster, as a punishment due to her mother, Cassiopeia, for boasting of 
her beauty in comparison with the Nereids. — 30. nor hast thou to fear 
an Italian banquet like that of Thyestes. The sun (Phoebe) was said to 
have averted his face from that banquet. — 31. nor have distant torches 
blazed against the life of any. Pr. The reference is to the story of Althaea, 
who threw on the fire the fatal stick of wood by which the death of her son, 
Meleager, was caused. — ^Z- * n arbore, sc - sedentem. — 34. subdita, 
substituted (by Artemis) for Iphigenia, when laid on the altar at Aulis. — 
35. cornua curvare in pellice, " ne'er with crooked horns hath marred 
a rival's draw" — 36. dedecorare, disfigure, bove for bovis figura ; 
"or, torn by fearful jealousy, transformed her to a cow'' Cranstoun. The 
allusion is to the story of Io. — 37. With cruces must be supplied non 
valuit habere, or adhibere. Lachm. non . . . saxa, the Scironian rocks 
from which the robber Sciron threw travellers into the sea; awkwardly 
inserted, since in sua fata must refer to Sinis, who was killed in the 
same way as he had killed others. Py. supposes the poet may have con- 
founded the two stories, since both robbers were killed by Theseus. — 

40. pro digna gente, i.e. prout nobilitas gentis tuae postulat. Earth. — 

41. tibi ad eloquium, i.e. "to whom you may exhibit your eloquence, 
and for whom you may profitably employ it." Py. — 42. aptus, worthy, i.e. 
suited to your condition. 



XIV. 

An imaginary love-letter written by Arethusa to her husband 
Lycotas, absent in the Eastern wars. Under these names it is gen- 
erally thought that Aelia Galla and her husband Postumus (to whom 
elegy XI is addressed) are meant. The similarity of circumstances 
mentioned in the two elegies strongly favors this supposition. The 
correctness of it, however, is doubted by Hertzberg because of the 
improbability that feigned names should be used after the real ones 
had been given, and because when the Roman writers employed 



xiv.] Propertius. 239 

feigned names they selected such as were of the same rhythm as the 
real ones. 

This is the earliest specimen of a species of poetry which was 
afterwards extensively cultivated by Ovid ; and the resemblance of 
his Heroides to this elegy is so striking that they seem to have been 
modelled upon it. 

Arethusa complains of her husband's continued absence, her own 
desolation and vain attempts to relieve it ; she denounces war, yet 
wishes she could follow him, and implores him to return speedily, 
continuing faithful to her alone. She will be as grateful to the gods 
for his return, as she has been devoted to them in his absence. 

5. incerto tractu, from its unsteady stroke. — 6. " tis but the 
token of my dying hand." Cranstoun. — 7. iterates per ortus, in 

Easter 71 climes more than once visited. Cf. V, I, 82 : signa iterata ; Hor. 
O. I, vii, 32 : eras ingens iterabimtis aeqnor. Bactra stands here for 
Parthia ; and the allusion is, perhaps, to the sending of troops and supplies 
for the second Parthian expedition to revenge the death of Crassus. — 
8. munito equo, with mail-clad steed. Noricus. So Keil. For the 
reading of most Mss., Hericus, many editors read Neuricus, from Neuri, 
a Sarmatian tribe. — 9. picto . . . curru. Cf. II, i, 76 : esseda caelatis 
siste Brita?i7ia iugis. — 10. the sun-burnt swarthy Indian by the eastern 
sea. Py. aqua, locative-ablative. — 11. Quae praetulit, The torch 
which preceded me 1 as an omen of my marriage, deductae, co7iducted \.o 
my husband's house. — 12. nigra = fuliginosa, i.e. not burning bright 
and clear, ever so rogo, some burnt-out pyre. The Romans had a great 
dread of connecting in any way the rites of* marriage and burial. — 
13. Stygio lacu. The water used for sprinkling (when the bride reached 
the bridegroom's house), by way of symbolizing her purity, was not fresh from 
the stream, but came from the Avernian lake, recta, rightly fitting ; or it 
maybe used for the adverb. — 14. non . . . deo, without the attendance of 
the god Hymen, who did not not come when invoked in the marriage song. 
— 15. portis, probably the city -gates, at which altars and shrines cf the 
Lares viales were placed, and before which written vows for the safety of 
the absent were suspended, noxia vota. Arethusa's promises of offer - 
ings were harmful, not favorably received by the gods, and so hindered 
rather than hastened her husband's return. — 16. texitur . . . lacerna, 
refers to the custom of Roman wives weaving a military cloak for their 
husbands, when in camp, every year. That her vows had not been heard 
was shown by Lycotas' being now absent the fourth year. Py. 

17. inmerita, sc. such a fate, or use for such a purpose, vallum, 



240 Notes. [xiv. 

the stake carried by each soldier for constructing the rampart of a camp. — 
19. obliquo, i.e. standing (or walking) sideways, in the position of rope- 
making. Ocno, i.e. tha?i Ocnus in the painting. See Lex., s. v. II. The 
inventor of war, before all others, deserved to have endless toil in vain. 

— 21. urit, chafes. — 24. color, i.e. paleness, meo, for me, emphatic. 

— 26. osculor tua, / kiss them as yours. — 28. auctores, harbingers ; 
" and wakeful bird of morn forget to crow." Cranstoun. — 29. castrensia, 
i.e. for military garments. See Lex., s. pensum, B, I. — 30. in radios 
. . . suos, cut in lengths to suit their shuttles. Py. — 31. disco, sc. as 
one of the employments of the long winter nights. Py. qua parte, sc. 
of the East. — 32. sine aqua, i.e. in order to find water. — ^- pictos 
mundos, i.e. pictas orbis partes. — 34. docti positura dei, the forma- 
Hon or arrangement of the world by a wise deity, positura is a Lucretian 
word. — 38. peierat, falsely swears, sc. in order to console me. hiberni 
• . . moras, that the delay is caused by the wintry season. 

40. barbara, contrasted with Romanis puellis ; happy in the free- 
dom of her wild state. Pr. — 42. a faithful companion to your train. Pe. 

— 44. Africus, the reading of the Mss., considered doubtful and difficult 
of explanation, yet retained by most editors, may be here used indefinitely 
for any wind. Pr. remarks that generally, in the Latin poets, Africus is 
marked by epithets denoting roughness and storminess rather than warmth. 

— 45. aperto in coniuge, in the case of an ackfiozvledged and lawful 
husband. Pr. — 47. Nam mihi quo, sc. ornatus, understood from the 
following words. So Hertzb., Keil, and others. Poenis ostris, "the 
costly Tyrian hues.''' tibi,for you alone. Py. prefers to place the inter- 
rogation after manus. — 49. raris kalendis, only now and then on the 
first of the month, adsueta, i.e. who had been accustomed to do this 
oftener. Offerings were usually made to the Lares on the kalends, nones, 
and ides of each month. — 50. clausos lares, i.e. the lararium, the 
shrine or small chapel where the statues of the Lares were placed and wor- 
shipped. The meaning is that Arethusa has not even the heart to perform 
her ordinary religious duties. Pr. — 51. et vox = et sola vox. — 52. tui 
partem vindicat, claims your place. Cf. Martial's pretty epigram 
(I, no) on a lapdog which slept on its master's bed. — 53. compita, 
sc. at the shrines of the Lares viales. — 54. herba Sabina, a kind of 
juniper, from the crackling sound of which when burning on the hearth 
an omen was derived. — 55. gemuit, has hooted ; a bad omen. — 
56. tangi mero. If a wick sputtered, it was a good omen ; an arrival 
was expected, and it was touched with wine, as an acknowledgment of the 
omen and as a libation. Py. parca, waning. — 57. The omens are fol- 
lowed by a sacrifice, either to avert the evil or ensure the good they 



xv.] Proper tins. 241 

portend. Py. — 58. calent . . . lucra, are eager after fresh perquisites, a 
portion of the meat being sent to them after duly performing the sacri- 
fice. Py. 

59. ascensis Bactris, won by scaling the walls of Bactria ; as if it 
was an acropolis, tanti, sc. ut vitam per das. — 60. carbasa, here an 
adjective. See Lex., s. v. II, A ; with Una, the standard, of embroidered 
linen cloth. — 62. versis equis. The Parthians when fleeing or pre- 
tending flight would suddenly turn on their enemy and discharge arrows at 
him. Cf. Ill, 13. — 63. tua = presented to you. — 64. pura hasta, i.e. 
without a head, given as a badge of honor to a soldier who had distin- 
guished himself in battle. See Rh., s. v. — 65. incorrupta conserva, 
i.e. as I hope for your triumphant return, so preserve your honor chaste. 
Pr. "O keep thy bridal troth without a stain." Cranstoun. — 67. portae 
Capenae, i.e. to the temple of Mars, which was close to that gate; accord- 
ing to the custom for wives to offer up arms in this way on the safe return 
of their husbands. — 68. puella, a young wife. See Lex., s. v. II. 
salvo . . . vira. The verb omitted, as usually in this formula. 

" The four simple words that end this beautiful elegy form a most effective 
conclusion." — Paley. 



XV. 



This elegy was written probably for the Ludi Quinqucnnales, 
which were instituted to commemorate the battle of Actium (b.c. 
31), and first celebrated B.C. 16. It contains the earliest and most 
authentic record of that battle, with a eulogy on Augustus for his 
decisive victory over Antony and Cleopatra. 

" The poem consists of three scenes : the exordium, the poet's sacrifice, i.e. 
the description of the battle of Actium, and the sacrificial banquet." — POST- 
GATE. 

1. Sacra facit vates. The poet represents himself as a priest about 
to perform a sacrifice ; and hence the metaphors in the first ten verses are 
all from sacrificial and sacerdotal usages, sint . . . faventia = favete 
Unguis. — 2. meos focos, the altar-fires, before which I officiate. — 
3. Cera, the reading of most Mss., retained by Lachm., Keil, and Palmer; 
= tabula, i.e. let the page of the Romaji bard vie with the elegy of the 
ivy-crowned Philetas. So Pr., who admits that cera with corymbis 
involves a strange confusion of metaphors, but considers it similar to those 
found in other passages of Propertius. Cf. V, 1 and* - ! 8. Pe. insists that 



242 Notes. [xv. 

neither of the two senses which cera could have here, writing tablet and 
wax i??iage, is satisfactory, and with Barth and Kuinoel prefers serta, the con- 
jecture of Scaliger. Other readings are Hedra (Py.) ; Ara (Haupt) ; Tura 
(Reid). corymbis. The dative after certet is poetical. — 4. Cyre- 
naeas. Callimachus was a native of Cyrene. aquas, the libation at the 
poet's sacrifice. Pe. — 5. blandi, pleasant-smelling, with the secondary 
sense of propitiating. Pe. honores, offering. — 6. laneus orbis, the 
circling wool of the fillet which was wound round the altar. Pe. See Rh., 
s. Villa. — 7. spargite . . . lympfais, sc. using a branch of bay. This 
was also a Greek custom at a sacrifice, recentibus aris, at the newly- 
bnilt altars. Py. — 8. tibia, played to drown all ill-omened sounds. 
Mygdoniis libet cadis, pour from Phrygian stores, the notes of, the 
tibia being compared with the libation of wine from a jar at a sacrifice. Py. 
— 9. Ite procul, the usual address to those, who were not ceremonially 
pure, to keep away from the sacrifice, applied here to the taint of crime. 
alio aere, i.e. anywhere but here. Pe., who also calls attention to "the vivid 
concreteness of the idea — the noxae are supposed to be floating in the 
atmosphere, noxa brings out the actual mischief done, fraus, the mali- 
cious niotive." — 10. pura may mean merely fresh pulled, and therefore 
ceremonially pure, or may refer to the cleansing qualities ascribed to the 
laurea, the shrub sacred to Apollo. Pe. paraphrases the verse : " a soft 
carpet of bay-leaves is strewn on the ground for the poet-priest to tread on 
as he leads the procession to the altar." Pr. renders it : the inspiration of 
Apollo (symbolized by the laurel) will enable the poet to master a new and 
difficult subject, or a new kind of poetry. 

11. referemus, i.e. our the?7ie shall be the cause of building the 
temple, etc. — 13. in nomen, for the honor of. — 14. vaces, deign to 
listen. — 15. Phoebi, i.e. where the temple of Apollo stood, fnigiens, 
retreating into the land. Atiiamana litora, i.e. the shores of Ambracia, 
to the northeast of which the Athamanes were located, in the interior of 
Epirus. portus, i.e. the Ambracian gulf. — 16. "where the roar of the 
Ionian billow is hushed within Ambracia's bay." — 17. Actia, transferred 
from pelagus, an appositive of sinus, to moninienta, which here means 
recording (sc. by the temple on its shore) the exploits. luleae carinae, 
i.e. the ship of Octavian, lulus'' descendant. — 18. votis, dative; with 
nautarum = the pr -ay 'ing sailors, non operosa, i.e. giving no trouble. 
via, the passage into the Ambracian gulf. The allusion is to the larger 
harbor of Nicopolis, built by Augustus after his victory. 

19. mundi manus : Antony's forces were made up partly of Egyptian 
auxiliaries and partly of Eastern nations ; and his fleet, from the unwieldy 
size of its ships (nioles), seemed to stand motionless (stetit) on the 



xv.] Propertius. 243 

water. — 20. nee . . . avis, nor was the omen equally favorable to each 
Jleet. Py. — 21. Quirino, the new Quirinus, i.e. Octavian. Pe.; with 
damnata, dative of the person in whose favor the verdict of condemnation 
is made, — the prosecutor. Pe. See Roby, 1199. Py. makes the verb refer 
to the custom of solemnly denouncing in the Senate the enemies of the 
Roman people, " under the ban of the Troy-descended Romulus." — 
22. turpiter. " It was degrading to the national Roman weapon that it 
should be wielded by a woman and an Egyptian, i.e. the alliance of Antony 
and Cleopatra was a scandal to Rome." Pe. — 23. nine, i.e. on our side. 
lovis online, i.e. the favorable breeze, regarded as sent by Zeus Ovpios. Py. 

— 24. patriae, dative = pro patria. docta, sc. by the many victories 
already gained. — 25. Nereus, the god of the sea, is represented as curv- 
ing the fleets in two crescent-shaped lines, geminos in arcus. "The 
front of Augustus' fleet was concave, that of Antony's convex." Cf. Meri- 
vale's description of the battle, ch. XXVIII. — 26. picta . . . aqua, 
descriptive of the play of colored light on the waters. Pe. — 27. linquens. 
Notice the force of the present participle stantem, fixed, stationary. 
se vindice, through his protection. — 30. in obliquam faceni, like a 
torch held aslant, by which the flame is curved upwards. Py. ter sinuata, 
thrice curving. — 33. sed, sc. attuleral talem vultum quali, etc. — 
34. egessit, emptied, by removing the dead to the pyres without, rogis, 
ablative. The allusion is to the pestilence described in the Iliad I, 40-50. 

— 35. flexos per orbes, through all its coiling rings, solvit, i.e. 
"uncoiled its folds and stretched it limp in death." — 36. serpentem, 
participle, inbelles lyrae, the timid Muses, the instrument put for the 
performer. 

37. ab Alba, sprung from Albds kings. — 38. Heetoreis, Trojan ; 
worthy of Hector. Pe. cognita, i.e. by thy exploits. — 40. onus, sc. 
pharetrae. — 42. vota, viz., in the form of coronae or tabellae. Py. Pe. 
makes it mean with publica a nation's prayers, calling that, however, "a 
very modern expression." — 43. murorum augur, when he took the aus- 
pices for the walls. — 44. Palatinas, seen on the Palatine, non bene, 
in an evil hour. Pe. — 45. Et . . . audent, seems to imply that Antony's 
fleet made the first onset. Py. — 46. regia vela, a tyrant's fleet, contrasted 
with principe. pati. Cf. v. 48. — 47. centenis, the distributive, because 
classis = naves. — 49. quod, etc., as to the prows, etc. See A. 333, a ; 
G. 525, Rem. 2; H. 516, 2, note. Centaurica . . . min&ntis, fgures 
threatening to hurl such stones as the Lapithae hurled against the Centaurs; 
referring to the figure-heads. Py. Antony's fleet had engines for hurling 
real rocks. — 52. subest, used of what is at the bottom of a dispute. — 
53. temporis, sc. for beginning the action. — 54. rostra, the beaked 



244 Notes. [xv. 

ships, laurigera manu, sc. as if about to put a wreath of victory upon 
them. 

55. pondus, the conteiits. arcus, the " pluralis magnificentiae." Pe. 
— 57. fide, fidelity to his promise (v. 39, 40) and to the cause, femina. 
Cleopatra is never mentioned by name by Virgil, Horace, Propertius, or 
Ovid. Pe. — 58. sceptra fracta, the shivered sceptre, i.e. victa classis. 
vehimtur, drifts, or perhaps is conveyed. Pe. — 59. Idalio, in allusion 
to Venus, the mother of lulus. Cf. Catull. XIII, 96. — 60. nostri . . . 
fides, i.e. this victory of yours is a guarantee (i.e. proof} that you are 
bom of my race. Py. — 62. libera signa, the standards of freedom. — 
63. Ilia. Cleopatra, who however really escaped with her fleet to Alexan- 
dria. — 64. hoc unum, accusative in apposition to the rest of the line, 
ready to do all but die on a bidden day. Cf. Hor. Sat. I, iv, 10 ; Tac. Hist. 
Ill, 31. — 65. Di melius, sc. nobis consuluerunt. Py. ; not so, but prob- 
ably a prayer. Pe. quantus = quantulus, how paltry. — 67. hinc, i.e. 
from this contest. Pe. monimenta, the restoration of Apollo's temple on 
the promontory of Actium and the quinquennial festival called Ludi Actiaci 
(which must not be confounded with the Ludi Quinquemtales at Rome), 
instituted at Nicopolis, the city erected by Augustus to commemorate his 
victory. — 69. Citharam, sc. which he had laid aside during the fight. Py. 

71. The poet who in v. 1 had assumed the character of a priest now 
speaks of the banquet partaken of by the college of priests in the sacred 
grove after the sacrifice. Py. Candida convivia, the white-robed ban- 
queters. Cf. Hor. Sat. II, ii, 61. molli, grateful, soothing, with soft grass 
and shelter from the heat. Pe. — 72. blanditiae rosae, the soft caresses 
of the rose, i.e. the caressing roses; rosae, the collective singular: "adown 
my neck let dainty rose-wreaths flow." Cranstoun. — 74. spica Cilissa, i.e. 
tuft of saffron, imported from Corycus in Cilicia ; here saffron ointment. — 
75. Ille memoret, Let one poet celebrate. Py. servire Sicamforos. 
This German tribe on the east bank of the Rhine had defeated the Romans 
under M. Lollius, B.C. 16 ; but on Augustus himself going to Germany they 
sued for p^.ce. — 76. Cepheam, Cephean, so called from Cepheus, an 
old king of Aethiopia, the iaJier of Andromeda. Meroen, Candace, queen 
of Meroe, a district of Aethiopia, the capital of which was also Meroe, in 
B.C. 22 and 21 invaded Egypt, but was defeated by Petronius, praefect of 
that province, and submitted to Augustus. — 77. confessum, here used 
absolutely; with sero foedere, owning Rome's power by a tardy truce. — 
79. pharetris Eois = pharetratis Lois gentibus. — 80. differat tro- 
paea, i.e. leave something for his sons to conquer, pueros suos, Caius 
and Lucius Caesar, the sons of his daughter Julia by M. Agrippa, adopted 
by Augustus. — 81. nigras harenas, the alluvial plains watered by the 



xvi.] Propertius. 245 

Euphrates, though strictly speaking these did not extend up to Parthia. 
si quid sapis, i.e. if there is any consciousness in Hades. Py. — 82. ire 
. . . licet, i.e. the way to the East is now opened by the Roman arms. — 
83. patera, with libations. 



XVI. 



An elegy on the death of Cornelia, in the form of an address to 
her husband, exhorting him to cease his lamentations for her, 
affirming the blamelessness of her life, pleading her cause before 
Aeacus and the court of Hades, summoning witnesses to attest her 
virtues, addressing also her children and commending their father 
to their care ; and asking for admission to the abode of her distin- 
guished ancestors in Hades as a recompense due to her merits. 

" The plan of the poem, which is a sort of funeral oration in verse, is not 
consistently maintained throughout. Cornelia passes from addressing her hus- 
band in the upper world to addressing her supposed judges in the lower, and 
vice versa. This is the more intelligible, if — as Hiibner has conjectured — the 
elegy was intended to be engraved on her tomb, at once the passage and the 
barrier between the two worlds." — Postgate. 

Cornelia was the daughter of Cornelius Scipio, a man of consular 
rank, and Scribonia, the sister of L. Scribonius Libo, and afterwards 
the wife of Augustus. P. Cornelius Scipio, consul B.C. 16, was her 
brother. Her husband Paullus Aemilius Lepidus, a nephew of the 
triumvir of that name, was an officer in the Republican army, but 
afterwards joined Octavian, was consul B.C. 34, and censor B.C. 22. 
Their children were L. Aemilius Paullus, consul a.d. i, M. Aemilius 
Lepidus, consul a.d. 6, and Aemilia Lepida, of whom nothing is 
known. As Cornelia died B.C. 16, it has been inferred that this was 
the latest of Propertius 1 productions, as it is certainly the master- 
piece of his genius, and (in the estimation of most critics) one of 
the finest poems in the language. Paley speaks of it as "a splendid 
composition full of pathos and eloquent appeal, and on the whole 
worthy of the almost extravagant praises which Barth and Kuinoel 
have bestowed upon it. 11 

1. urgere, to importune, sepulcrum here = Manes, my buried 
shade. On the sentiment of the line cf. Tibullus, I, 65, 66. Py. remarks : 
"The confusion of bodily and spiritual ideas, and therefore of terms, so 



246 Notes. [xvi. 

observable in this elegy, and generally in the Latin poets, is a natural con- 
sequence of the materialism of the ancient mythology. Thus fzmera, v. 3; 
rogos, v. 8 ; ossa, vs. 20 and 58, are used of the ghost of the deceased, from 
which the poet cannot detach the notion of a continued bodily existence 
in the other world ; which is the more perplexing, as he does not forget 
the annihilation of the earthly corpse on the pyre." — 2. panditur, opens 
for the passage of the dead back to life. The door of the tomb (or rather 
sepulchral chamber) is the barrier as it were between life and death. Py. 
ad, in answer to. Pe. — 3. intrarunt leges, contains the double notion 
of e7ttering the dominions, and entering the jurisdiction. Pr. fimera, the 
dead. Cf. Catullus, XIII, 83. — 4. non exorato = inexorabili ; " barred 
stand the adamantine doors of do >om." Cranstoun. — 6. nempe, assuredly. 
surda, i.e. that cannot hear you. lacrimas bibent, i.e. your tears will be 
wasted. Py. explains the two lines : " the god may be willing to hear you, 
but the laws of fate are superior to his will and inexorable." — 7. supe- 
ros, emphatic, only the gods of heaven, portitor, sc. Charon, aera, the 
piece of money put into the hand of the corpse, with which to pay Charon's 
fare. Whether this Greek custom was generally adopted by the Romans 
is doubtful. See Becker's Gallus, p. 508. — 8. herbosos, grass-groivn, 
the Ms. reading, adopted by Lachm., Ilertzb., and Keil. It is used to 
strengthen the notion of the grave as a closed place, — the earth mounded 
up and grass growing on it, so that there is no return possible. Pr. Palmer, 
Py., and Pe., with others, read umbrosos. rogos, used of the grave, by a 
confusion of imagery. See Lex., s. v. II. — 9. Sic . . . cecinere, i.e. the 
mournful notes of the tuba in the funeral procession proclaimed this truth. 
Py. — 10. lecto, an adjunct of detraheret, was withdrawing from the bier. 
The phrase refers to the gradual sinking down of the body into the burning 
mass. Pr. — II. eurrus, the triumphal car. — 12. famae = famae pu- 
dicae. pignora. See Lex., s. v. II, B. 1. tanta — tot. — 13. habui, 
did I find. Cornelia. The introduction of the proper name has a special 
emphasis as a self-assertion of conscious pride, " I with all my personal 
and hereditary claims for consideration." Pe. — 14. levatur. Notice the 
use of the indicative, onus, the small urn holding her ashes. 

15. Damnatae noctes, an instance of hypallage for damnatorum 
nodes, nights of the condemned. Cf. Tibullus, II, 65, scelerata sedes. 
lenta, sluggish. — 16. inplicat, entangles my feet. Py.; winds round 
my path. Pe. — 17. inmatura. Premature death was supposed to be a 
consequence of the commission of some crime. — 18. pater, sc. Pluto. 
So Hertzb., Py., and Pr. Pe. thinks it possible that Cornelia's father is 
meant, hie, in the underworld. Pe., = huiusce regni. Pr. Py. and other 
editors read huic, for this my innocence, det mollia iura, i??ipose lenient 



xvi.] Propertius. 247 

conditions on my shade, sc. for my residence in Orcus. Py. ius dare = 
leges constituere, to give a body of rights ; ius dicer e, to administer the law. 
Hertzb. — 19-20. Py. calls these verses exceedingly difficult, and con- 
denses from Hertzberg's commentary the following interpretation : " ' Or, 
if I am to undergo a trial (my asserted innocence not being taken for 
granted), and if there be indeed an Aeacus to judge the dead, let him 
punish my shade according to its deserts by the appointment of a jury (by 
drawing from an urn the names of the judices) ; and let Minos and Rha- 
damanthus act as assessors.' In this complicated allusion to the judicial 
forms of the praetor's court, the reader will observe that Aeacus is the 
quaesitor who appoints the jury by putting the names to be drawn, written 
on a ballot (j>ila) 9 into an urn; that the jury are supposed to be taken 
from the shades of the dead ; that vindicare in aliquem can only mean to 
punish; and that this sense in fact suits the context best, aut (v. 19) im- 
plying ' or if I am guilty,' etc.; that sortita pi la is the same as sortie ndis 
iudicibus, the participle being used in a passive signification." Pe. ex- 
plains qnis as = any such person as, takes index in its proper sense of 
juror or acting judge, urna as either the voting urn (as in v. 49) or the 
one containing the names of the accused, which decided the order in which 
the trial came on, and which was placed near Aeacus, and sortita pila, 
as the drawiitg by lot the ball inscribed with my name. See Ry., pp. 291- 
294. — 21. adsideant, i.e. act as assessores, jurists who sat by the side of 
the magistrate on the tribunal to advise him on points of law. Minoida, 
here, but nowhere else, an adjective. — 22. Eumenidum, sc. as execu- 
tioners of the sentence, intento foro, in the listening cow't. Py. — 
23. orbes, the revolutions of the wheel. Pe. — 24. Tantaleo. So the 
Mss., Hertzb., Lach., and Py. It must be a substantive form representing 
the Greek TavraXtQ) from a supposed Greek original TauraXeccs; with 
corripiare, may you be caught by Tantalus. Py. On the ground that this 
supposition respecting Tantaleo is without authority, Kuinoel and Muller 
emend the text, reading corripere ore. — 25. petat, attack, improfons, 
relentless. — 26. iaceat, lie loose on the ground, tacita sera, the pad- 
lock of the door, to which it is attached, ceases to rattle. Pe. See Rh., s. 
Sera. — 27. sororum, here the Danaides. 

29. Cornelia's plea before the court. " But the poet has not maintained 
the persona loquens with perfect consistency, as the appeal to her children, 
and still more, her advice respecting their conduct toward their stepmother 
and to her husband have nothing to do with a defence." Py. Instead of 
per tropaea, the genitive or ex with fama would be the regular con- 
struction, decori fuit, adorned ; less common than decus for the beauti- 
fying thing. Pe. — 30. Afra Numantinos avos, is an allusion to the 



248 Notes. [xvi. 

African and Spanish successes of the two Scipios, Africanus Major and 
Minor, loquuntur, are eloquent about. — 31. altera turba, i.e. the 

ancestry on the mother's side. The Libones were members of the Scribo- 
nian gens, exaequat, i.e. pares facit pater nis avis. Py. ; used absolutely, 
which is very rare. — 32. titulis, literally, commemorative inscriptions. 
Pe. But see Lex., s. v. II, A. Both families alike rest on their titles, i.e. so as 
not to come to extinction or obscurity. Py. — ^. praetexta, the dress of 
childhood, exchanged at marriage for the stola of the matron. — 34. ac- 
ceptas, caught by, taken tip. altera vitta. The form of the matron's 
vitta differed from that of the maiden. — 35. sic, only thus to be parted, 
i.e. by death, cub ill, to be taken with iungor. — 36. boc. So the Mss. 
Cornelia is supposed to point to her gravestone. Lachm. and others read 
huic. legar, future here. — 38. titulis. Under the inscription at the 
base of a statue or trophy commemorating the exploits of Scipio Africanus, 
we must suppose a symbolical sculpture of Africa to have been placed, 
represented as a woman (a female slave or captive), prostrate, with hair 
shorn in token of grief. Py. Cf. v. 32. — 39. The construction is : et 
(eum testor qui f regit) Persen tuasque, O Persa, domos Acbille pro- 
avo ortas. Hertzb. The allusion is to L. Aem. Paullus, the conqueror of 
Perses and ancestor of Cornelia's husband. Instead of simulantem 
Acliillis, the reading of Keil, Palmer, and Py., Pe. reads stimulantem 
Achilli, and instead of tuas proavo (v. 40), the Ms. reading, accepted by 
Keil and Palmer, Py. reads tuas proavtis, and takes Acbille as a voca- 
tive, which the quantity of the final e seems to forbid. Pe. reads tume7ts 
proavo ; while he argues against the reading of Aveme for Acbille in 
Munro's discussion of the passage in the Journal of Philol. (VI, pp. 53-62). 

— 41. mollisse, weakened, i.e. have not been the cause of my husband's 
relaxing the severity of the censorship through any fault of mine which he 
ought to have punished. Py. — 42. labe, stain. — 43. damnum, i.e. she 
did not impair the lustre of these honors. Pe. The dative would be regu- 
larly used in prose. — 44. i.e. great as was the family, she was herself even 
a pattern of virtue in it. Py. 

" Ne'er censor bent the law to screen my shame ; 
Your hearth was aye the shrine of honor fair; 
No slur I brought upon your stainless name; 
Your house was noble — I the pattern there." — CRANSTOUN. 

— 45. Mea aetas = I throughout my life. Pe. mutata, sc. for the worse. 

— 46. inter utramque facem, from the bridal to the fu7ierql torch. — 
47. Mi natura . . . ductas, i.e. my virtue is natural and inherited, not 
assumed through fear of punishment. Pe. 



xvi.] Propertins. 249 

" Nature my blood with inborn virtue blent — 
No fears couid make my guiieiess heart more pure." — CRANSTOUN. 

— 49. Quaelibet urna, i.e. any panel or decuria of jurors, whose votes 
of acquittal or condemnation were dropped into the urn. ferat taoellas, 
the proper phrase for the juror's taking his tablet to the urn. Pe.; with aus- 
teras, pass their severest sentence. — 50. No woman, however virtuous, will 
be disgraced through sitting at my side. The friends of a defendant sat by 
his side during a trial. Some translate assessu nieo, contact with me, or 
being classed with me. — 51. tardam, delaying , stranded. — 52. Clau- 
dia Quinta, a Roman matron, suspected of unchastity, established her inno- 
cence by drawing off from a shoal in the Tiber the boat conveying the 
image of Cybele (which was brought from Pessinus by P. Cornelius Scipio, 
B.C. 204) when the soothsayers had announced that only a chaste matron 
could move it. turritae, tower-crowned. She w r as represented with a 
crown of turrets (personifying the earth and its cities). See Lex., s. v., and 
Rh., s. corona, rara, seldom found, hard to ??iatch. Pe. — 53. corarais- 
sos, i.e. as a deposit committed to her care. — 54. focos, the altar-fire. 
Aemilia, a vestal virgin, who was accused of letting the sacred fire go out, 
tore off a strip of her garment and cast it on the altar, when the embers, 
which had long been cold, suddenly shot out through the linen into a 
bright flame. — 55. caput, brings out the personality, dear life. Pe. Cf. 
v. 10. — 58. defensa, sc. from aspersions which seem to have been cast 
upon her. — 59. sua nata, sc. Julia, the daughter of Augustus and Scri- 
bonia, and half-sister of Cornelia, vixisse, has ceased to live. A. 279, a ; 
H. 471, 1, 2). — 60. increpat, complains ; with an infinitive, only in Pro- 
pertius. ire, falling, deo, i.e. Caesari. 

61. Et tamen, i.e. though I died so young, generosus, ennobling. 
Pe. vestis. Augustus conferred certain privileges on matrons who had 
had three children. The reference here seems to be to the presentation 
of an embroidered vestment. But nothing is definitely known about it. Py. 

— 62. sterili, emphatic. — 63. 

11 My boys ! my solace when I live no more, 
Ye held me in your hands and closed my eyes." — CRANSTOUN. 

— 65. sellam . . . curulem, obtain a second curule office, i.e. the con- 
sulship. What his first was is not known. Pe. — 66. Py. calls this line a 
brief and rather confused way of expressing qui cum consul factus esset, eo 
tempore rapta est soror eius. Hertzb. understands tempore as the ablative 
of instrument. — 67. specimen . . . paternae, born to illustrate the 
censorship of thy sire. Pr. ; in whose birth is reflected your father's censor- 
ship. Pe. — 69. serie, i.e. an unbroken line of descendants, cymba, 
sc. of Charon, volenti . . . meis, Py. renders : / die resigned now that 



250 Notes. [xvi. 

so many of my children survive me to perpetuate my memory, — 70. fata 
= sortem. Pe. reads facta. 

72. emeritum rogum, in its simplest sense means defunctam vita 
mtilierem, according to the familiar use of emeritus, applied to things 
done with, past and gone. Py. Hertzb. interprets emeritum as = plane 
meritum, i.e. laudari ??ieritum. Both Py. and Pe. think it doubtful which 
of these two interpretations is the correct one, and leave the question unde- 
cided, libera, unrestrained by her presence, free to speak as they think. 

" A wife's last triumph, and of fairest note, 
Is fame's sweet incense rising o'er her tomb." — CRANSTOUN. 

— 73. Her plea is here interrupted by her parting injunctions to her hus- 
band and children. — 74. " burnt in my bones still breathes a mother's 
care." Cf. Gray's line : " Even in our ashes live their wonted fires." — 
75. maternis vicibus, a mother 's part ; the plural very rare in this sense. 
Pe. — 76. omnis turba, cf. vs. 78, 98. — 77. tua, emphatic. — 79. sine 
. . . illis, sc. doleto. — 80. oscula may refer to the kisses of the father or 
the children; so that the clause siccis . . . genis may mean either falle eos 
osculando siccis genis. Py.; counterfeit kisses with dry eyes. Pe., i.e. dis- 
guise your real feelings by a cheerful kiss ; or, decipe osculantes ptieros, 
i.e. deceive your children when they kiss you, by hiding the traces of your 
tears. So Hertzb. and Pr. — 81. Sat . . . noctes . . . fatiges, a period 
of time represented as being affected by what takes place in it : Be content 
to weary the nights for me, i.e. to pass weary nights in mourning for me. 
Pe. — 82. in faciem credita meam, believed to be visions of me ; ita 
credita, tit fades mea tibi apparere videatur. Hertzb. — 83. secreto, 
i.e. in the cubiculum, where the simulacra, images in marble or wax, 
would be placed. Pe. — 84. ut responsurae, " as if the lips could 
answer thee again." — 85. The marriage couch (lectum) stood in the 
atrium, opposite to the door (ianua). See Becker's Gallus, p. 166. 
mutarit, has seen the couch cha7iged. Pe.; i.e. if a new bride is intro- 
duced. — &6. cauta, circumspect, careful to avoid offence. Pe. Py. in- 
terprets it suspicious, reserved, "implying the proverbial attributes of a 
noverca, severity and jealousy " ; and Pr. thinks it " includes also the idea 
of shy, uncertain of her ground, and hence needing kindness from the 
step-children." — 87. coniugium, the abstract for the concrete, lau- 
date, speak kindly of ferte, i.e. let not your conduct be at variance with 
your words. Pe. — 88. capta, won. dabit manus, will surrender. — ■ 
89. priori, her predecessor. — 90. libera, unrestrained, outspoken praise. 
Pe. suas, used objectively. A. 197, a; G. 363, Rem.; H. 396, III, 
note 2. — 92. " and dower my dust with love so rare." — 93. iam nunc 
sentire = praesentire ; i.e. to mark the least symptoms of his approaching 



xvi.] Propertius. 251 

age, and so to anticipate his wants and weaknesses. Py. — 94. caelibis 
. . . vacet, be left open for a widower 's cares to approach him. Pr. — 
96. prole, probably, by the conduct of i?iy offspring. Pe., who considers it 
one of the most difficult ablatives in this author. Py. understands the 
force of sic to be, by your being all spared till his old age. May the 
happiness he feels in you cause him to enjoy his old age. 

97. bene habet, are words of resignation. Pe. — 98. tota caterva 
= omnis turba meoruni. — 99. surgite, sc. to testify, testes, her hus- 
band and children, probably; though Py. thinks it uncertain who are 
meant. — 100. dum, until the judges are satisfied and give judgment 
in her favor and the reward her life has earned. So Pe., who interprets 
humus, the earth, as including the under world. Py. explains the line, 
" while my memory is even now cherished on earth. She regards the 
reward bestowed upon her by the grateful earth as conferred at once, even 
while the witnesses are lamenting her loss to those above." — 101. mori- 
bus . . . patuit, so?ne have even ascended to the gods by their virtue : all 
that I aspire to is, that my shade may have a triumphal entry into rest. Py. 
merendo, by my deserts. — 102. equis. So Hertzb. and Py. after the 
Mss., and the verb vehantur is very strongly in favor of this. " The idea 
of a triumphal procession and a car of honor, so familiar to the Roman 
mind, is borrowed to express Cornelia's joyful conveyance to the regions of 
Elysium." Lachm., Muller, Kuinoel, and Pe. accept the emendation avis, 
a dative of the motion towards, to the abode of 7ny distinguished a?icestors i 
and take vehantur as used of the boat which conveys the good. 

"No one can read this last elegy — the sweet swan-song of the bard — or 
listen to the solemn grandeur of its transmundane music, without acknowledging 
his lively sympathy with human suffering and human sorrow; his lofty appre- 
ciation of stainless purity; his almost Christian tenderness; and that deep wis- 
dom that is born of a realization of the worthlessness of transient pleasures and 
the vanity of voluptuous dreams." — CRANSTOUN. 



NOTES TO OVID. 



INTRODUCTION. 

EOVIDIUS NASO, of a wealthy equestrian family, was born 
in Sulmo, a city of the Peligni, in 43 B.C., the year of the 
death of Cicero. After a course of study in rhetoric, in preparation 
for practice at the bar, a tour to Athens and Asia Minor, and the 
holding of several unimportant judicial offices, he devoted himself 
exclusively to poetry, residing a portion of the time on his Pelignian 
estate, about ninety miles from Rome, but chiefly at the capital 
itself. 

As a member of the literary circle of Messala, who had directed 
his early studies, he was on intimate terms with the poets and schol- 
ars of his time, particularly Horace, Propertius, Aem. Macer, and 
Bassus, and was held in high esteem in the court of Augustus, one 
of whose personal friends, O. Fabius Maximus, was a generous 
patron of the poet. But for some unknown cause, respecting which 
there has been much speculation, he was, by a sentence oirelegatio, 
in a.d. 8, compelled to remove to Tomi in lower Moesia on the 
Euxine, and to spend the rest of his life there in exile. His death 
occurred in a.d. 18, the same year as that of Livy. 

The poems of Ovid, who was the fourth in the series of elegiac 
writers, and the most voluminous of Roman poets, may be arranged 
in three classes: 1st, those of his early life, which include the 
Heroides and his other amatory poems, in elegiac verse ; 2d, those 
of his middle life, in which period he wrote on subjects of Greek 
mythology and Italian legends — the Meta?7iorphoses and the Fasti] 
3d, those written at Tomi, the most important of which are the five 
books of Tristia and the four books of Epistles from Pontics — 
ninety-six poems in elegiac verse. These last are chiefly occupied 
with descriptions of his experiences in exile, lamentations over the 
hardships of his lot, entreaties for a remission of his sentence, and 
appeals to influential persons in Rome to aid in securing this ; and 



Ovid. 253 

though less perfect in diction and metre than his other writings, 
they are entirely free from impurity, and contain many passages of 
great poetic beauty. 

The Heroides are imaginary letters from women of the heroic or 
legendary age to various heroes — their husbands or lovers. Of the 
twenty-one epistles making up this collection, only the first fourteen 
are now considered certainly genuine, and the authorship of two or 
three of these is still a matter of dispute. These productions are 
ingenious in their structure, and are remarkable for their smooth- 
ness of versification. 

" In the ' Arethusa ' of Propertius (XIV) the scenes and incidents are laid in 
real life. Hence Ovid claims for himself the invention of this species of com- 
position, though it is in fact merely a new form of the elegy. But the epistolary 
form bestows on it a propriety, interest, and animation, of which the elegy or 
even a well-conducted soliloquy in Tragedy is scarcely susceptible. The art 
of the poet is chiefly exhibited by opening the complaint at a period of time 
which affords scope for a display of the most tender sentiments as well as the 
most sudden and violent changes of passion." — DUNLOP. 

" It was doubtless to his training in the schools of the rhetoricians that Ovid 
owed the wonderful variety he has been able to. introduce into a set of subjects 
so similar in character, in which the universal passion is made to breathe from 
the mouths of Sappho or Oenone, Ariadne or Medea. If the poet has failed to 
catch the simplicity of the best heroic models, he has at least imbibed a portion 
of their purity and depth of feeling. The Loves of the Heroines is the most 
elevated and refined in sentiment of all elegiac compositions of the Romans." 
— Merivale. 

The Fasti, written in elegiac metre, is a poetical year-book or 
companion to and commentary upon the almanac, on the plan of 
one book for each month (cf. Fast. Ill, 57), though only six books 
(January to June) were finished at the time of Ovid's banishment. 
This portion of the work he revised at Tomi, but there is no reason 
to believe that he ever completed his original design. But cf. Trist. II, 
549, et seqq. In correspondence with the contents of the Calendar, 
this work of Ovid consists of (a) a mention of the annual religious 
festivals (to the number of about forty), on the day of the month 
of the occurrence of each, with an account of their origin, their 
nature, significance, rites and ceremonies ; (b) a mention of the 
time of the rising and setting of about thirty-five of the most im- 
portant constellations, and of the passage of the sun through the 
signs of the zodiac, with an account of the myths explaining the 



254 Notes. 

names and forms of these constellations and of the signs of the zo- 
diac, also the legends accounting for the name of each of the months ; 
(c) a mention of noted anniversaries on the day of their occurrence, 
such as, those of the dedication of many of the most celebrated 
temples and altars, with descriptions of their divinities, and those 
of memorable historical events, among them the banishment of the 
kings, the slaughter of the Fabii, the defeat at Trasymenus by Han- 
nibal, the defeat and death of Hasdrubal, of Crassus by the Parthians, 
Caesars victory over Juba, Caesar's death, Augustus' victory at 
Mutina, etc. 

Thus the subject-matter, though it includes some of the Grecian 
myths, is chiefly a collection of legends relating to the primitive, 
religious, social, and civil institutions and customs of Rome, and of 
occurrences belonging to the period of its authentic history. And 
on all these subjects this work of Ovid is a storehouse of information 
respecting the early Roman character and the religious and civil 
polity of Rome which could be obtained from no other source. 

The successive pieces are richly-colored pictures of the primitive 
life of the Italian race, of religious observances, social customs, and 
historic occurrences in the day of austere homely virtues and heroic 
lives, arranged, however, in an order determined by the successive 
days of the calendar, and therefore distinct from each other, and 
having only an artificial bond of union. 

11 For example : The sixth Book opens with the scene of the three goddesses, 
Juno, Juventas, and Concordia {jungens dea), presenting in turn their claims 
to give a name to the month, thus ingeniously bringing out the three theories 
of the etymology of Ju?ie. Among the rest of its contents are accounts of the 
dedication of the temple of Juno Moneta and the career of Marcus Manlius 
(the first to drive the Gauls from the citadel), near whose house it stood, on the 
calends ; the rising of the Hyades on the 2nd ; the dedication of a temple to 
Fidiiis on the nones, and one to Mens (after the early defeats in the second 
Punic war) on the 8th ; on the 9th the observance of the Vestalia with an ac- 
count of Vesta and her worship, associated by the poet with tellus y and suggest- 
ing a description of the celebrated sphaera of Archimedes ; the victory of Brutus 
in Spain and the destruction of Crassus by the Parthians on the same day. 
Later on — a festival of Minerva on the ides ; the rising of Orion on the 16th, 
the defeat of the Roman army at lake Trasymenus on the 23d ; the gloomy 
picture relieved by the account of the defeat and death of Hasdrubal on the 
24th ; the occurrence of the Summer solstice on the 26th ; and a concluding 
address to the Muses, whose statues were in a temple of Hercules dedicated on 
the 30th. 



Ovid. 255 

" By the dignity and beauty with which the time-honored and sacred festivals 
were described in this poem, a new charm was thrown around them. And its 
exhibition of the childlike faith, reverence, and sincerity of worship of the olden 
time, in so attractive a form, the greater impressiveness given to the religious 
rites by the historical setting in which they were placed and the information 
imparted about them, the portraits of patriotism and of private virtue, embodied 
in real life, drawn from the national history, combined to make the Fasti a 
didactic poem, of a very profitable kind. Never rising to the heights of heroic 
strains, this poem is ' the perfection of story-telling ' in verse. Many parts of it 
are among the finest specimens of Ovid's composition." 

Quintilian's comments upon this poet are as follows : Lascivus 
quidem in herois quoque Ovidius et nimium a?nator higenii sui, lau- 
dandus tauten in partibus. Ovidii Medea videtur mihi ostettdere, 
quantum ille vir praestare potuerit, si ingenio suo wtperare quam 
indulgere maluisset. X, i, 88, 98. See also p. 196. 

By modern scholars also, Ovid has been censured for failing to 
"prune the growths of his too luxuriant fancy," and criticised as 
too prolix, repetitious, and redundant, as deficient in masculine vigor 
and as aiming too much at mere rhetorical effect. These criticisms, 
however, apply chiefly to his earlier and his latest pieces. Such 
departures from the requirements of a pure and correct taste are 
found in a less degree in the Fasti than in his other works, partly 
because of the nature of its plan, partly because his judgment and 
taste, when he wrote it, were mature and at their best. 

Notwithstanding his defects, all concede to him an unlabored 
gracefulness of style, a wealth of choice diction, a harmony and 
ease of versification, unequalled by any other Roman poet. Niebuhr 
considers him a master of language and rhythm, and the only Roman 
poet who attained complete facility of versification; and asserts 
that in Ovid^ hands the elegiac metre reached its highest point of 
excellence. 

" In point of originality, variety, and ease, he may be called the greatest of 
the Roman poets. His characteristics as a poet are exuberance of imagina- 
tion, an overfondness for description, gracefulness, and taste rather than natural 
warmth and sensibility, a luxuriant fulness and freedom of clear picturesque 
diction, often marred by the excess of contrast, antithesis, and point, a perfect 
smoothness and simplicity of construction, and a faultless flow of easy, har- 
monious versification, especially in the elegiac metre, which in his hands reached 
its highest point of perfection." — PiNDER. 



256 Notes. 



This Epistle is supposed to be addressed by Laodamia, the 
daughter of Acastus, to her husband Protesilaus, the son of Iphiclus 
of Phylace in Thessaly, the chief who led against Troy the men of 
several Thessalian towns. {Iliad, II, 698-702.) 

While the host was still at Aulis, Laodamia heard of an oracle to 
the effect that the first man of the Greeks who should touch Trojan 
soil would be immediately killed, and she writes to warn her husband 
of it, and to dissuade him from exposing himself to this fate. 

Notwithstanding the oracle, Protesilaus on reaching the shore of 
Troy leaped from his bark, far the foremost of all the Achaeans, and 
was slain by a Dardanian warrior, — according to one tradition, by 
Hector. 

Cf. Wordsworth's Poems of the hnagination, XXXI, " Laodamia," 
of which this legend furnished the subject. 

Respecting the authorship of this Epistle the opinions of critics are divided. 
L. Muller and Ry. accept it as a production of Ovid. Lachm. thinks there is 
great reason for doubting this, but does not regard the arguments against it 
as absolutely decisive. Palmer maintains that it was composed by the same 
author as Epist. xvi and xvii, while he admits that it is a composition of consid- 
erable merit. Dunlop considers it one of the best written and most interesting 
epistles in the collection. 

I. salutem, used in a double sense ; with mittit, sends greeting, with 
quo . . . ire, that health may go where she sends it. — 2. Haemonis. Cf. 
Propertius, III, 2 ; v, 26. — 4. hie ventus, such a wind as this, i.e. a 
head- wind. — 6. Illud . . . aquis. That was the right time for the 
waters to rage. Sh. — 9. hinc, sc. from Thessaly. — 13. mandantis, 
i.e. of me as I gave you my last injunctions. — 15. Incubuit, blew 
violently. — 21. fugacia, swift. — 23. tenebris obortis, with a film 
of darkness upon my eyes, ob conveys the idea of covering and ob- 
struction. Sh. — 24. succiduo, sinking beneath me. As to the per- 
sonal form of dicor, see A. 330, b; G. 528, Rem.; H. 534, 1, note I. — 
26. refecit, restored me to my senses. — 29. rediit. In Ovid the last 
syllable of the third person perfect of the compounds of eo> and sometimes 
of the simple verb, is very often lengthened by the caesural pause. This 
perfect ending was originally long, and is often so used by Plautus; in 
Virgil it is usually short. Pr. — 2>Z- Quas, the Bacchanals whom, pam- 
pinea hasta, i.e. the thyrsus of Bacchus. Cf. Catull. XIII, 256. tetigisse, 



i.] Ovid. 257 

expresses both the actual touch of the thyrsus and the frenzy communicated 
by it. — 34. qua . . . egit, wheresoever the frenzy has driven me. — 
36. sinus, here, robes. — 41. Qua possum, As far as I can. squalore. 
See Lex., s. v. II, A. 3. — 42. tristis agam, I will spend in mourning. 

43. Dyspari, ill-fated. — 44. iners, cowardly. — 47. pro rapta, 
i.e. to recover your wife who had eloped. — 48. flebilis, i.e. as the 
exciter of a war which will cause weeping to many wives and mothers. 
See Lex., s. v. II, A. — 50. det, may offer up, in the temple of Jove, sc. 
as a thank-offering for safe return. — 51. subiit, has come into my mind. 

— 56. hospes, sc. Paris. — 58. suo . . . opes, was displaying on his 
person the wealth of Troy. — 60. quota, here, how large, quemque 
refers to the various chieftains we may suppose to have been in the train of 
Paris. Sh. — 61. gemellis, sc. Castor and Pollux. — 62. Haec, i.e. wealth 
and splendor, which are able to damage the Greeks by ultimately leading 
to war. Sh. — 68. multos Hectoras, i.e. many men as brave or dan- 
gerous as Hector. — 71. Si fas est, If it be the will of fate. — 74. viro, 
by her husband, dative of the agent. — 75. dispar, sc. that of Paris. 
vivere pugna, struggle to keep alive ; pugna being used here in a kind 
of double meaning, join in battle, and struggle to do so and so, in which 
latter sense it is often followed by an infinitive in Ovid. Sh. 

S^- revocare, sc. from going to the war. ferebat, led me to do so. 

— 84. Substitit . . . mali, My tongue stopped for fear of the bad omen. 
To call one back when starting on a journey was considered a very bad 
omen. — 86. offenso limine, stumbling on the threshold was also a bad 
omen (signa), which Laodamia in v. 90 tries to avert by accepting it as a 
good one. Cf. Tibullus, II, 20. — %%. viri, of my husband. — 89. ani- 
mosus, i.e. too brave for safety. Cf. v. 94. — 90. in ventos eat, prove 
vain, be grou?idless, or needless. — 91. Sors, The oracle. — 95. mille, 
often used for an indefinitely large number. — 96. fatigatas, sc. by the 
oars of others' vessels. — 97. novissimus, the last. — 98. terra . . . tibi, 
your native land. — 99. remoque veloque, a proverbial phrase for 
doing anything with all one's might]; generally, rowing being resorted to 
only when sailing was impossible : speed o?i your ship with oar and sail 
together. Sh. — 102. dolor, a source of sorrowful anxiety. — 104. Why 
in your words is there 7nany a mournful sound? venit, sometimes little 
more than equivalent to fit or est, in Ovid. Sh. a, the interjection. Instead 
of multa tuis, P. reads muta latens. — 105. simulacra . . . adoro, / 
propitiate the phantojfis of the night. Sh.; i.e. the nocturnal deities by 
whom these ill-omened dreams (described in the preceding lines) were 
sent, and so avert the evil they threaten. — 106. fumo meo, the smoke 
of my sacrifice. — 107. relucet, blazes up again. — 1 10. languida ab 



25 8 Notes. [ii. 

laetitia mea, faint from sheer joy. solvar, relax my embrace. As to 
the position of ipsa, cf. IX, 96; XII, 18. — 115. his, sc. osciilis. nar- 
rantia verba = verba narrantis. — 116. promptior, more fluent. 
Instead of referre, P. and Sh. read refecta. 

117. subit, subeunt. See v. 51 and note. — 120. Invitis aquis, 
though the sea forbids, referring to the detention of the fleet at Aulis. In 
vs. 121 and 122 the emphasis is on in patriam and A patria. — 
123. suam urbem. The walls of Troy were said to have been built by 
Neptune and Apollo. — 126. casus and numinis, subjective genitives 
limiting mora. — 131. Troasin, dative plural of Troas. sic, as they 
will, refers to the whole situation. Sh. — 134. barbara, i.e. Trojan. — 
137. producet, will escort on his way to the field. P. — 138. Iovi. See 
v. 50, note. — 141. haec, sc. nova mipta (v. 133). — 143. Nos, we, 
Grecian wives. 

145. diverso in orbe, in a different part of the world. — 146. cera, 
a waxen mask or likeness. Such images were often colored and made 
with considerable art ; and were successful as likenesses. Sh. Cf. Trist. 
2, 521 ; Martial, 7, 44. See Rh., s. Cera. — 149. plus est, etc. She 
imagines some mysterious connection or sympathy to exist between Pro- 
tesilaus and his imago. — 152. tamquam . . . queror, / make my 
plaint to it, as though it could reply. Ry. — 154.' per faces, P. para- 
phrases as follows : by the marriage-torch, whose fires are ever felt by my 
constant soul. — 155. ut = titinam, the only instance in Ovid of ut in 
this sense. P. — 156. quod . . . referre, i.e. may you return alive. — 
158. sive . . . timeo, i.e. sive mortuus eris, an intentional aposiopesis, 
in order to prevent the unlucky omen, which speaking of .death would 
involve. P. 



II. 

Ovid's Lament over the death of his friend Tibullus. 

I. Memnona, the son of Tithonus, brother of Priam, and Eos {Au- 
rora). Memnon went to the assistance of his kindred when Troy was 
besieged, and according to the later writers fell by the hand of Achilles. — 
3. indignos, i.e. in undeserved mourning, implying that the death of 
Tibullus was premature, solve capillos, " U7tbind thy tresses fair in 
loose attire P — 4. ex vero, according to truth, for elegiac verse was 
originally applied to mournful themes. — 5. vates operis, priest of thy 
worship or service. Pr.; "thy bard 7 the herald of thy fame" — 13. Fra- 



ii.] Ovid. 259 

tris. Aeneas was the son of Venus. — 15. confusa, overwhelmed with 
grief. — 16. iuveni, sc. Adonis, the boy beloved by Venus, cut off in the 
bloom of youth by a wound from the tusks of a wild boar. — 17. At 
introduces an objection, to which silicet = True, but know that, etc., 
replies in v. 19. Pr. — 20. illicit manus, a legal phrase = takes forcible 
possession of, seizes man as his property. Pr. — 21. pater, sc. Apollo. 
mater, sc. Calliope. Orpheo, a more common form of the dative than 
that in ei. — 23. Aelinon (a? Aivos, woe is me for Linos), originally the 
lamentation of Apollo for the death of his son Linos, killed by Hercules in 
a moment of passion. — 24. invita lyra, with sad reluctant lyre. Pr. — 
30. tela, sc. of Penelope. — 32. cura, amor, sc. of Tibullus. — 33. nunc, 
sc. whatever may have been the case once ; emphatic. — 34. sistra. 
See Tibullus, II, 24, note. — 36. sollicitor putare, poetical construc- 
tion for ut putem or ad putandum, which would be required in prose. — 
3j. moriere pius, i.e. yet piety will not keep you from death. Pr., who 
also calls confide (as well as vive and cole) a hypothetical imperative = 
trust if you like. — 40. Instead of toto, Pr., following two Mss., reads 
tanto as contrasting better with parvo. — 43. potuissent, sc.fla7?i?nae. — 
44. sustinuere, dared to perpetrate. — 46. negant. Notice the mood, 
and cf. putent, v. 18. See A. 320, a; G. 634, Rem. I; H. 503, I, 
note 3. — 47. Phaeacia tellus. Cf. Tibullus, II, 3. — 48. vili humo, 
common earth, unhallowed by the offerings of relatives, without urn, 
tomb, or inscription. Pr. — 49. Hinc, i.e. hi consequence of your return. 
madidos, wet with tears, or dewy with the damp of death. Pr. — 
53. cumque tuis, — and together with thy kindred, priorque. Cf. 
v. 32. — 55. felicius, explained by Vixisti . . . eram. — 57. quid tibi 
sunt, etc., what right hast thou to grieve for a loss not thine but mine. Pr. 
— 58. me, emphatic. — 60. Cf. Tibullus, II, 56. — 62. Calvo, C. Li- 
cinius Calvus, the poet and orator, a contemporary and friend of Catullus. 
docte refers to his familiarity with Greek literature, and the Grecian tone 
and spirit which pervade his poems. — ■ 63. si falsum . . . amici, " if 
false the charge of amity betrayed" seems to refer to some ill-feeling 
between Tibullus and Gallus, the cause of which has been variously con- 
jectured. — 64. Galle, the elegiac poet, and celebrated as the friend of 
Virgil's youth. — 65. His . . . est. Respecting the series of elegiac poets 
see p. 196. Instead of Si qua Pr. reads Siquid : If only the shade of what 
was once a living form be something real. — 66. numeros pios, i.e. 
numeros piorum. — 68. "may earth lie lightly where thy ashes rest" 



260 Notes. [in. 

III. 

THE FASTI.* I. 1-140. 

1-26. A formal dedication of the poem to Caesar Germanicus 
(b. 15 B.C., d. 19 A.D.), the son of Drusus, nephew and adopted son of the 
emperor Tiberius, and heir to the throne; composed (with the exception of 
vs. 1, 2, 7, 8, 13, and 14, which perhaps formed the original commence- 
ment) soon after the death of Augustus, A.D. 14, probably for the purpose 
of inducing Tiberius, through the intercession of Germanicus, to recall the 
poet from exile. 

Germanicus' father, Drusus Claudius Nero, and the emperor Tiberius 
Claudius Nero were the sons of Tiberius Claudius Nero and Livia Drusilla, 
afterwards the third wife of Augustus. 

The emperor Claudius was a brother of Germanicus ; and the latter 
by his wife Agrippina I (daughter of M. Vipsanius Agrippa and Julia the 
daughter of Augustus) was the father of the emperor Caligula and of 
Agrippina II, the mother of the emperor Nero (by her first husband Cn. 
Domitius Ahenobarbus), who was afterwards the wife of her uncle the 
emperor Claudius. 

* Uses of the Word Fasti. 

1. The Roman calendar or almanac (sometimes called Fasti Caleiidares) ; which con- 
tained an enumeration of the months and days of the year in regular order, with a letter 
attached to each indicating whether it was Fastus, Nefastiis, Intercisus, Comitialis, or 
Aier, the position of the Nones, Ides, Nundinae, and different Festivals; frequently, 
also, astronomical observations on the risings and settings of the fixed stars, the time of 
the equinoxes and solstices, and the commencement of the seasons; and sometimes brief 
notices of important events. 

Several specimens of such Fasti on stone, more or less perfect, have been discovered, 
but none of them older than the Augustan Age. One of them, the Tabula M off e ana, 
which dates from a.d. 3 or 5, contains the twelve months complete. 

2. Fasti Annates or Historici. — The most important of these were the Annates 
Maximi, chronicles in which were recorded the names of the chief magistrates for each 
year, together with a short account of remarkable events and the days on which they 
occurred. And in prose-writers fasti is commonly employed as the technical term for 
such registers of magistrates, which formed part of the public archives. 

Fasti Cafiitolini is the name given to a number of fragments of marble tablets dis- 
covered in excavating the Roman forum and deposited in the Capitol, which contain a list 
of consuls, dictators, censors, triumphs, etc., from the establishment of the Republic to the 
death of Augustus, though defective in many places. It was executed probably at the 
beginning of Tiberius' reign. 

Similar collections, derived from different sources, have received the names of Fasti 
Consulares, Fasti Tritimphales , etc. 



in.] Fasti I. 261 

1. Tempora, includes both the months and their divisions, and the 
different kinds of days — festivals, half-holidays, and days for ordinary 
business, causis, their origin, i.e. the reasons or grounds on which the 
distinctions were established. Py. Probably the word has reference to the 
AiVict of Callimachus, an epic poem now lost, but of which there was in 
Ovid's time a Latin translation, describing the origin of various customs 
and legends of the Greeks, digesta, properly an agricultural term, mean- 
ing planted out i7i rows ; arranged in order. — 2. lapsa, which set. Cf. 
Lucretius I, 2 and note, signa, constellations. This part of the material 
for his work Ovid obtained from his friend Clodius Tuscus, who wrote a 
treatise on the risings and settings of the stars, of which there is a Greek 
translation extant. — 3. pacato, co7ici Hated. — 5. officio, properly the 
personal service of a client to his patron, as in attending him in public; 
hence a component of any kind. Py. — 6. numine . . . ades, give a 
gracious hearing to. — 7. recognosces, you will renew your acquaintance 
with, also a complimentary expression, implying that Germanicus was a 
man of learning, annalibus priscis. These were twofold, public and 
private. The public chronicles were the Annates Jllaximi, the Libri Pon- 
tificates, and the acta dittma and acta Senatus (from B.C. 59). The most 
important private sources of information were the works of the " Annal- 
ists," Cato's Origines, and Varro's Antiquitates rerum divinarum et hu- 
manartim. — 9. et, also, domestica vobis, i.e. instituted by or in honor 
of your own gens (the Julian by adoption). Py. — 10. pater, i.e. Ti- 
berius, his father by adoption, avus, Augustus, whose step-son and 
adopted son Tiberius was. — 11. Quae, sc. praemia. pictos, illumi- 
nated, red-lettered. The Festival days in the Fasti were thus distinguished. 
signantia, refers to the marks made in the Fasti against such days. — 
12. Druso, the younger Drusus, son of Tiberius and adopted brother of 
Germanicus. praemia . . . feres, i.e. will hereafter obtain the same 
honors (praemia) in the Roman calender which your seniors (illi) have 
already secured. Py. — 13. Caesaris aras, i.e. temples built or restored 
by Augustus. — 14. sacris, i.e. diebus. — 15. Annue, Be propitious, 
sc. mihi. per . . . ire, to recouiit your praiseworthy deeds. — 17. Da, 
dederis, equivalent to conditional clauses. — 18. voltu tuo, according 
to the expression of your face. — 19. movetur, = emittitur, is put forth. 
Py. — 20. Clario, Claros, on the coast between Colophon and Ephesus, 
was the seat of an ancient and celebrated oracle of Apollo. — 21. sensi- 
mus, we (the Romans generally) are well azuare. culti . . . oris, Ger- 
manicus was distinguished for his amiable and virtuous character, his high 
sense of honor, his literary culture, and his eloquent oratory, as well as for 
his military genius. — 22. tulit, sc. facundia tua. — 23. nostras artes, 



262 Notes. [in. 

sc. poetry, impetus, inspiration, sc. ingenii tui. — 24. ingenii. The 

double i of the genitive is rare in the Augustan poets, but sometimes used 
through the necessity of the metre. See A. 40, l>, foot-note; H. 51, 5; 
M. 37, Obs. 1. — 25. licet is a word of more general meaning; fas est 
implies the divinity of Germanicus : If it is otherwise perznissible, and if I 
have your divine assent. Hra. Py. paraphrases the clause : Si licet me 
rogare et si fas est tibi concedere roganti. Merkel and Ky. read Scilicet tit. 
— 26. annus, i.e. the poem on the year. 

Vs. 27-62 form the introduction to the poem. 

27. Tempora . . . suo. In very early times the Roman year consisted 
of 304 days, divided into ten months, beginning with March. This was 
succeeded by a pure lunar year of twelve months, according to Ovid 
(IV, 30, 31), January being added at the beginning of the year, and Febru- 
ary at the end, and the latter being put into the second place, afterwards, 
by the Decemviri ; but according to other accounts, both January and 
February being added at the end of the year. The former month, therefore, 
may have been originally called after Janus, not because it was the first 
month in the year, but because it was the month which immediately fol- 
lowed the winter-solstice, when the sun may be said to resume his career. 

The epoch, however, at which January and February became the first 
and second months, there is no satisfactory evidence to determine. After 
B.C. 154 the consuls always entered upon their office on the 1st of January, 
and after B.C. 46 that day was assumed as the calendar period for begin- 
ning the year. 

At what time any system of intercalation was first brought into use is 
not known ; but the intercalations were made in the month of February 
between the 23d and the 24th. 

The prerogative of adjusting them was in the hands of the Pontifices, 
who lengthened or shortened the year, at pleasure, until the whole calen- 
dar was involved in the greatest uncertainty and confusion, and the civil 
year was about two months in advance of the seasons. Caesar, in the year 
46 B.C., by the insertion of two intercalary months between November and 
December, besides the ordinary intercalation in February, rectified the 
error and established the solar year and the Julian calendar. See Ry., pp. 
362-376; Diet, of Antiqq., pp. 226-233; Momm. I, 275-278; IV, 661. 

31. quae moverit, such as influenced him. Hm. ; wJiich may have 
moved him, potential subjunctive. Ky. — 32. habet, historical present. — 

33. "As long a period as suffices for the birth of an infant." Hm. — 

34. temporis, partitive gen., dependent on hoc. — 36. tristia signa, 
the signs of mourning. — 37. vidit = respexit. trabeati. The trabea, 
a purple robe with white stripes, was one of the insignia of royalty, and was 



in.] Fasti I. 263 

afterwards worn by the principal magistrates. — t$. annua iura, regu- 
lations concerning the year. — 40. generis princeps, sc. because Aeneas, 
the founder of the Latin race, was her son. ipsius, sc. Romulus. — 
41. senibus. Mains was said to be derived a maioribus, and Junius, a 
iunioribus. — 42. numero, sc. as September from septem, etc. turba, 
i.e. the rest of the months. — 43. nee lanuni praeterit, i.e. added Jan- 
tcary. avitas umbras, the shades of his ancestors, which were pacified 
by februa, offerings made at a festival in Febi-uary. See VI and notes. — 
44. praeposuitque. Ry. has apposuitque ; others postposuitque or addi- 
dit ille. Cf. IV, 31. Notice the position of que, so near the end of its 
clause, a license Ovid takes only in the pentameter, the que being almost 
always attached to a word of four syllables, and that generally a verb. It 
occurs at least twenty times in the Fasti, Hm. 

45. Ne ignores, That you (the reader) may not be ignorant of 
iura, the regulations. — 46. officii idem, the same kind of duty. Cf. 
soporis idem, II, 334; twbae idem, V, no; idem virium, Tac. A. 216, 
a-, G. 371 ; H. 397, 3. lucifer,* day. See Lex., s. v. II, C. 

* Classification of Days and Marks by which They were Distinguished in 
the Calendar. 

1. Dies Fasti, F. : Days on which courts of justice were held and legal business 
tiansacted. 

Dies Nefasti, N. : Days on which the courts were closed. These days, however, 
admitted other business, both public and private. 

Dies Intercisi, N. P. (Xefastus priore), or Endotercisi, En.: Days which were 
Fasti during one part and Nefasti during another. 

Dies Comitiales, C. : Days on which assemblies of the people were held, for the most 
part such as were neither Fasti, Nefasti, nor Intercisi. 

Dies Atri: Days which were considered unlucky, and on which no public or state 
business was allowed; such as the day after the calends, nones, and ides of each month. 

2. Nundinae were market-days, so called because of their occurrence on every ninth 
day (according to the Roman method of reckoning, which included the day reckonedy>w/z 
and the day reckoned to) . They marked the limit of the Roman week of eight days. In 
the Tabuta Maffeana, the days of each week are indicated by the letters A to H, inclusive, 
placed on the left side of each column containing the days of the month. 

3. Festi were all days consecrated to the worship of the gods by sacrifices, feasts, or 
games. They were divided into Feriae Privatae and Feriae Ptcbticae, and the latter 
into Feriae Stativae, observed every year on a fixed day; Feriae Conceptivae, observed 
every year on days fixed by the priests or magistrates, for the time being; Feriae Im- 
perativae, far the most part days of supplication or thanksgiving, appointed by the 
magistrates on occasions cf national distress or triumph. 

4. The chief classes cf festivals were: (1.) Those sacred to Jupiter, as the Ides; to 
Mars, as the Calends of March, Mamuralia, Quinquatrus, Tubilustrium, and Armilustrium 
in October; to Quirinus (the Sabine Mars), as Quirinalia in February; and to Janus, 
as New Year's day, and Agonalia in January. (2.) Those relating to corn, wine, and 
flocks : The Spring festivals, — Cerialia, Palilia, etc., in April; The A ututn7t festivals, — 



264 Notes. [in. 

47. tria verba, the technical terms used by the Praetor and expressing 
his jurisdiction; viz., Do, sc. actione??i et indices: I give permission to 
bring the suit into court and appoint wnpires ; DlCO, sc. ius, i.e. I state 
the law for the guidance of the indices ; Addico, sc. bona vel damna, i.e. 
I make over the property in dispute to the lawful owner, or award damages 
for injuries received. Ry., p. 276. — 49. Nee putaris, And you must not 
suppose, perstare, i.e. necessarily cotitinue. — 50. qui . . . erat, i.e. 
there are ha If -holidays, the morning being the holiday time. — 51. si- 
mul = simul ac. licet . . . fari, i.e. business may proceed as usual. — 
52. honoratus, the epithet applied especially to the praetor urbanus 9 
whose edicts were termed ius honorariiwi. See Lex., s. v. B. — 53. quo 
• . . saeptis, i.e. the dies co?nitiales. The saeptis were inclosures in the 
Campus Martius for the voting of the Centuries. Each one was called 
an Ovile. See Rh., s. Septum. — 54. nono orbe, the ninth revolution 
of the earth, i.e. day. The reference is to the Nundinae. — 55. The 
first day of the month is sacred to Juno ; the ides to Jupiter. — 57. No- 
tice the inverted construction, instead of Nonae tutela dei carent. istis, 
sc. the kalends, nones, and ides. — 58. ater, i.e. more than nefastus. 
It was religiosus or unlucky. Hence Ovid adds : ne fallare cave, see 
that you do not forget the precept or miss the count. Py. — 59. Illis die- 
bus. The defeats at the Allia and the Cremera were on the day after the 
ides, but it is not known that there were any on the day after the kalends 
or nones, and — according to Ky. — they were made ater only by analogy. 
— 61. semel, once for all. totis . . . fastis, though they apply to the 
whole calendar. Hm. 

63-88. Description of various ceremonies performed on New Year's day. 

63. Ecce, implies a sort of joyful surprise : " Why here is Janus 
himself, and he wishes you a happy new year, Germanicus." Hm. — ■ 
64. Ianus, "was a deity unknown to the Greeks, but from the earliest 
times held in high estimation by the Romans, who placed him on almost 
an equal footing with Jupiter. To him they ascribed the origin of all 
things, the introduction of the system of the year, the change of seasons, 
and the civilization of the human race by means of agriculture, industry, 
arts, and religion. Janus opened and closed all things. Air, sea, and land 
were in the hollow of his hands. The world moved on its hinges at his 
command. In accordance with this belief he was represented with two 

Consualia and Opiconsiva in August; Opalia and Saturnalia in December; also, Luper- 
calia and Terminalia in February. (3.) Those of family '-life and civil-relations : as 
Vestalia and Matralia in June; Feralia in February; Regifugium in February, Poplifugia 
in July. (4.) Those of mariners, and of handicraft and art: as Neptunalia in July; Por- 
tunalia and Volcanalia in August; Carmentalia in January. 



hi.] Fasti L 265 

heads, one being that of a youth to indicate the ' beginning,' the other that 
of an old man to indicate the * end.' In his left hand is a key to show that 
he opens at the beginning and shuts at the end; the sceptre in his right 
hand is a sign that he controls the progress of every undertaking." Murray : 
Manual of Mythol. It has also been conjectured that his double face 
arose from the notion that as the sun passed from east to west he showed 
his disc both behind and before at the same time. 

67. ducibus, sc. Tiberius and Germanicus, with a reference especially 
to the victory gained by the latter over the Germans, A.D. 16. — 70. re- 
sera, an allusion to the key which Janus bore as a symbol, nutu tuo, 
i.e. thy favor and good will. Candida refers, probably, to the newly- 
whitened togas of the people keeping holiday. — 74. livida, slanderous. 
Instead of turba some editors read lingua. — 76. spica Cilissa. See 
Propertius, XV, 74 and note ; Tibullus, VII, 75 and note. If it crackled 
when thrown on the fire it was considered a good omen. — 77. aurum, 
the gilded ceiling. — 79. intactis, clean, unstained by use since they left 
the hands of the fuller ; perhaps also new togas. Py. Tarpeias arces, 
here, the temple of Jupiter Capitolinus. After B.C. 154, the consuls en- 
tered on their office on the first of January. Attended by the Senate, the 
priests, and a numerous throng of all classes of citizens, they marched in 
solemn procession to the Capital and offered sacrifices and prayers for the 
prosperity of the nation. See Ry., p. 137. — 80. The day was a dies 
candidus, and the people were clad in white holiday attire, and thus festo 
concolor. Ry. — 81. Iamque fasces, And now the procession is i?i 
sight, attending the new consuls. Py. nova purpura, the toga praetexta, 
a toga with a purple border, worn by the higher magistrates. See Ry., p. 
455. — 82. ebur, the sella curulis, the ivory chair of state. — 83. rudes 
operum. Oxen intended for sacrifice were set apart from the first and 
never put to work, praebent. The restiveness of a victim was a bad 
omen. — 84. herba Falisca. The district of Falerii near the river Cli- 
tumnus in Etruria was noted for its white oxen. — 85. arce sua, heaven's 
high citadel. Ry. — %%. coli, poetic construction, for a relative subjunctive 
clause. See A. 273, d; G. 556, 2; H. 533, II, 3, note 2. 

89. tamen, But, to return. It implies an ellipsis, such as : Though 
I might pursue this subject further, yet, etc. Hm. — 92. sit quod, what- 
ever is. — 94. lucidior. A supernatural light was believed to attest the 
presence of a deity. Py. — 100. ore priore, with his front mouth. — 
101. dierum, depends on operose, busy with, engaged upon. Hm. — 

105. restant, sc. to complete the number of the four elements. — 

106. ignis, the upper ether, the fiery celestial atmosphere, in distinction 
from aer, the lower atmosphere. — 107. rerum suarum, its component 



266 Notes. [iv. 

parts. — 108. massa, i.e. Chaos. — 109. flamma denotes the same 
element as ignis, v. 106. petit for petiit. — 112. redii, means to go 
back t then to go i?ito one's right place ; here, = the passive of reddo ; zvas 
duly moulded. Hm. — 113. nota parva, a slight mark or proof; in ap- 
position to the clause in the next line. — 114. ante, in front; post, 
behind, idem, sc. as all had been, when he was Chaos. 

115. quaesitae formae, of my acquired shape. Hm. altera, # sec- 
ond. This is given in v. 135 ; meanwhile he explains his office of Janitor 
in heaven and earth. Py. — 116. banc, sc. causam. — 120. cardinis, 
the hinge or axis of the sphere of the universe. Hm. — 121. libuit, sc. 
mihi. — 122. perpetuas, uninterrupted. — 124. condita, imprisoned. — 
125. Horis. They were named Eunomia, Dike, and Eirene. — 126. it, 
redit, co?nes and goes. — 127. Inde . . . lanus, i.e. from ire and ianua, 
implied in the preceding cardinis, foribus, etc. Hm. Cicero, De Nat. 
Deor. II, 27, supposes it to be from eo, as if Ea 1111s. Cui = Cuius altari. 
Cereale libum, a wheaten cake called ianual. — 128. farra . . . sale, 
i.e. the mola salsa. — 129. nomina, sc. given to me. From this it is in- 
ferred that the terms used by the rex sacrificus were almost obsolete, and 
sounded barbarous to Roman ears. Py. — 131. alterno nomine, by the 
alternate use of the two names ; diversas vices, the alternate exercise of 
opposite duties. Hm. — 133. Vis, i.e. Officium. — 134. iam tamen, etc., 
you must, however, have seen that already in some degree. Ky. — 
135. liinc atque hinc, on this side and on that. — 136. larem, i.e. the 
atrium of the house in which stood the image of the family Lar. — 
137. vester, i.e. of you Romans, primi tecti, i.e. the first part or en- 
trance of the house, the vestibule. Ky. 



IV. 

The origin of the name of the second month, Februarius, and 
the nature and use of purifications and expurgations. 

1. Februa, etc. Februa was the term used by the old Romans for 
what were afterwards called piamina. Romani patres, the patrician 
populus. — 2. verbo fidem, proof that such was the original meaning of 
the zuord. — 3. rege, the rex sacrorum, a priest, first appointed after the 
expulsion of the kings to perform those sacred duties and rites which had 
devolved upon the kings, nominated by the College of Pontifices and sub- 
ject to them, holding his office for life and taking formal precedence of 
all other priests, but discharging duties of a trivial character and not per- 



iv.] Fasti II 267 

mitted to hold any other office. See Ry., p. 331. flamine, sc. Diali, the 
peculiar priest of Jupiter, lanas. The reference is to some custom not 
elsewhere described; but fleeces of wool were employed for fillets for the 
heads of priests and of victims for sacrifice, for wreathing the olive branches 
of suppliants, and for use in certain expiatory rites. — 5. lictor, the at- 
tendant of the Flamen. domibus . . . certis, for the purification of 
particular houses, as opposed to the public purifications alluded to in vs. 
21 and 22. It was necessary that after a birth or a death the house should 
be swept out and purified. Hm. Merkel also supposes the allusion to be 
to this custom. Ky. explains : The parched far and salt (i.e. the mola 
salsa) which the Flamen's lictor takes in the flameri 's house for purposes of 
purification are called februa (idem, v. 6). Py. leaves it with the remark 
that the true meaning is uncertain, certis is the reading adopted by Ky., 
Py., Ry., and Hm. Merkel has temus. Another editor has lersis. The 
Mss. vary between cernis, ter?iis, and acernis. — 6. mica, sc. salis. — 
7. arbore, i.e. the pine. Cf. v. 10. pura, purificatory. Hm. — 9. po- 
scentem, sc. a ministris, when she was officiating. Ky. — 12. intonsos, 
bearded. See Lex., s. v. I, B. — 13. Mensis . . . dictus. The month 
derived its name from these februa (his), because at that time of the year 
especially, certain prescribed, expiatory rites took place. Py. Luperci. 
The Lupercalia occurred on the 15th of the month. — 15. placatis 
sepulcris, when the tombs are appeased, pura, i.e. facta pura. — 
16. ferales dies, the days of the festival for the dead. See Lex., s. Feralis. 
The allusion is to the Parentalia, the last day of which was properly 
called the Feralia. Hm. Cf. VI, 37, note. — 17. mali causam, i.e. any 
unexpiated guilt. Py. — 18. senes, ancestors. — 20. ponere, lay aside. 

Vs. 19-28 refer to the position and treatment of a homicide in the 
heroic ages. He was obliged to flee from his country as an outlaw, to 
shun the altars of the gods and all religious assemblies, to wander an out- 
cast and as one under the ban of heaven until he found some friend 
willing to perform the ceremonies of expiation and restore him, pure and 
holy, to his former station in society. These rites were designed to 
appease the spirit of the slain and the deities of the nether wor}d, and also 
to remove the stain or pollution contracted by the murderer. Ry. — 
21. Actoriden, Patroclus, the grandson of Actor, was purified 'by Peleus 
of the accidental slaying of Clysonymus. — .24. credulus, too ready to 
believe her story, inmerita, i.e. which she did not deserve. Phasida, 
i.e. Medea, daughter of Aectes, king of Colchis on the Phasis. When 
deserted by Jason she slew their children to avenge herself for her husband's 
perfidy in abandoning her, and escaped in a chariot drawn by winged 
dragons, the gift of Helios, to Athens, where she married Aegeus. — 



268 Notes, [v. 

25. Naupactoo Acheloo. The Achelous flows into the sea about thirty 
miles from Naupactus, a town on the Corinthian gulf in the district of the 
Locri Ozolae. — 27. faciles, sc. credere. 

29. See III, 27 and 64, notes, tamen, sc. observandum est. — 
31. ultimus. Cf. Ill, 44. — 32. sacrorum finis. The Terminalia, 
celebrated February 23d, was the last of all the festivals of the year. — 
35. spatio . . . longo, the months which had previously been separated 
by a long interval, i.e. by the ten other months. Hm. — 36. bis quini 
viri, the Decemviri, who drew up the twelve tables. Continuasse, to 
have placed next each other, i.e. made February follow January. Hm. This 
last statement is made nowhere else. 



The legend of the destruction of the Fabii. Cf. Livy, II, 48, 49. 

I. Idibus, sc. of February. — 2. insula, Tiberina. ubi rumpit 
aquas, i.e. the upper end of the island. — 3. Haec . . . dies. Ovid has 
mistaken the day on which the Fabii left Rome for that of their defeat, 
which was the 18th of July. Cf. Livy, VI, 1. Veientibus arvis. Veii 
was a populous and wealthy city, which was situated about ten miles north 
of Rome on a plateau surrounded on every side by deep ravines, and nearly 
encompassed by two streams which united below the citadel and formed 
the Cremera, a tributary of the Tiber. — 5. Vires et onus, i.e. the burden 
of the Veintine war. See the account in the Class. Diet. — 6. gentiles, 
i.e. of the Fabian gens, professa, volunteered by them. — 7. castris 
isdem, probably their meeting-place in front of the consul's house, miles 
generosus, the noble soldiery. — 9. Carmentis portae. The Carmental 
gate, which was at the southern end of the Capitoline hill, had two arch- 
ways. Just outside the gate and to the right of it was an ancient temple 
of Janus, dextra. So the Mss., Merkel, Hm., and Py., who paraphrases 
as follows : There is a passage throtigh the Carmental gate, next to the 
temple of y anus : that passage is unlucky; take the other on the left, 
dextro, the conjecture of Heinsius, is preferred by Gierig, Ky., and Ry., 
who interprets : " The nearest way is through the right yanus of the Car- 
mental gate, i.e. the right one of the three archways, of which many of the 
ancient gates consisted, the middle one for the sake of security being 
ordinarily kept closed. Those who went out would naturally take the 
Janus on their right; the contrary must have been the practice at the 
Carmental gate, and Ovid here explains the anomaly." 



vi.] Fasti II. 269 

After v. 10, Merkel and Hm., after the oldest and best Mss., omit two 
lines, which Ry. inserts, as follows : 

" Ilia fama refert Fabios exisse trecentos, 
Porta vacat culpa ; sed tamen omen habet." 

Ky. and Py. with other editors bracket them, though Py. thinks the inter- 
nal evidence is rather in favor of their genuineness. — 13. loco, sc. 
opportune), i.e. on the banks of the stream. Ky. 

23. rara, scattered up and down. — 30. quodque, sc pecoris. metus 
alter, i.e. of a second enemy (in ambush). — 31. male, to your cost. — 
32. Simplex, guileless, unsuspicious. — 37. longe actus, driven far 
out of. — 43. Herculeae gentis. The Fabii claimed descent from 
Hercules and a daughter of Evander. — 47. Maxime, Q. Fabius Maxi- 
mus, the dictator in 227 B.C., in the Second Punic War. — 48. res, sc. 
publica. cunctando, in allusion to his surname of Cunctator. restitu- 
enda foret, were to be restored, the past tense in reference to the coun- 
sels of the gods formerly entertained and since realized. Py. Cf. Ennius, 
VIII, 27 : Unus hovio nobis cunctando restituit rem, which Ovid here 
makes use of. 



VI. 

The festival commemorative of the dead, occurring in February. 

I. Est honor, etc., i.e. Besides the festivals already mentioned there 
is one in honor of the dead. — 2. extructas pyras, i.e. tumulos, the 
places of burial. — 3. Manes, i.e. animae pater nae. — 4. Styx ima, i.e. 
the abode of the Manes. — 5. Tegula, a tile or an earthen platter, the 
same as testa, v. 8. porrectis, offered in sacrifice. — 6. fruges, meal, 
i.e. the viola salsa. — 7. Ceres, gra in. solutae, i.e. not made into gar- 
lands. — 8. via, alludes to the roadside graves. — 10. sua, suitable, 
appropriate, focis, altars. — 11. pietatis, sc. in parentes. — 13. patris 
Genio, to the spirit of his father, sollemnia dona, the funeral games 
celebrated in Sicily by Aeneas in honor of his father, described in the 
Aeneid, Book V. — 16. parentales dies, i.e. the days of this festival. 
See Lex., s. v. deseruere, neglected. — 17. online ab isto, from that 
ill-omened neglect ; the wrong-doing represented as itself the augury of the 
calamities that followed. — 18. suburbanis, because, by the laws of 
the Twelve Tables, the dead were buried or burnt outside of the city-walls. 
— 20. avi, the departed spirits of ancestors. — 21. ululasse, gibbered. — 
22. deformes, shapeless, inane, unsubstantial, — 24. modus, an end. 



270 Notes, [vii. 

— 25. viduae puellae, widows, cessate, refrain, sc. a matrimonio. 
As a rule widows might marry on feriae publicae, though maidens might 
not; but the days of this festival were religiosi, unlucky for any mar- 
riages. Py. See Propertius, XIV, 12, note. — 26. puros, unpolluted. 
pinea taeda, the nuptial torch. — 27. cupidae, i.e. cupienti accelerare 
jiliae nuptias. — 28. comat. On her marriage-day the bride's hair was 
parted with a spear-point, a custom which has been variously explained. 
recurva, obscure and explained by various conjectures; bent or curved 
back, or perhaps old and blunted. — 29. atris, ill-omened, i.e. of burial. 
Hm. — 30. alias, different. — 31. Di . . . celentur, sc. ne dii adspeclu 
triste polluerentur. Gierig. — ^. f uncta sepulcris, duly buried. — ■ 
35. haec, these rites, ultra, sc. fiunt ; with quam, = beyond the ti7?ie 
when, etc. — 36. quot pedes. Each couplet of elegiac verse has eleven 
feet ; therefore the Feralia, the last day of the festival, must have occurred 
on the eleventh day from the end of the month, i.e. February 18; and this 
corresponds exactly with one at least of the ancient calendars, in which the 
festival is set down for XII KaL Mart. Ry. pedes, the reading of some 
of the Mss., adopted by Py., Ky., Hm., Ry., instead of dies, the reading of 
the best Mss., which makes no sense, vices is a conjecture of Merkel, 
who refers it to the number of places in an elegiac distich in which the 
feet are variable ; but Ky. and Py. object to this as forced and artificial. 
And as the Tabula Maffcana gives IX Kal. Mart, as the Feralia, Py. 
thinks the easiest way of reconciling the contradictory accounts is to sup- 
pose that the first day remained fixed, but that the last varied at different 
times, according to the number of days which could be conveniently devoted 
to the ceremonies. — 37. Hanc lucem, i.e. This last day of the festival, 
the whole of which was sometimes called Parentalia, with reference to de- 
ceased relatives; though this term also denoted the offerings made at this 
festival. See IV, 16, note; Becker's Gallus, p. 521. iusta ferunt, they 
render to the dead their lawful dues. Ky. iusta, i.e. epulas. See Catul- 
lus, XVI, 2, note. 



VII. 

The Caristia, a family festival, devoted to thanksgiving for sur- 
viving relatives, social gatherings, and reconciliations. 

1. Proxima, sc.festa. — 2. socios deos, i.e. the gods of the family, 
the Pejiates ; here, the family meeting. Py. turfoa propinqna = pro- 
pinqui. — 4. ora referre, to turn the face, i.e. to return. — 7. Innocui, 
emphatic, The innocent only, inpius, without natural affection. The 



vii.] Fasti IT. 271 

form of expression in this line is that of the invitation to attend sacrifices. 

— 9. vivax, sc. niminm. digerit, counts up; referred by Gierig to 
the consultations with astrologers to ascertain the hour of her death. — 
10. premit, oppresses. — II. Tantalidae fratres, i.e. Atreus and Thyes- 
tes. uxor, Medea. — 12. quae . . . dedit, Ino. — 13. soror, Philomela. 

— 15. Dis generis, the Manes. Ky.; the Lares. Py., who admits that there 
was no clear distinction between the two. — 17. libate, offer a first por- 
tion of. — 18. incinctos, i.e. succinctos, refers to the peculiar dress of the 
Lares, called cinctus Gabi?ttis i which was a peculiar way of wearing the 
toga. Py. patella, the technical name of the dish on which offerings of 
food were made to the gods. — 21. vos, you Lares, sc. valere precor, or 
volumus : This to your health. Caesar, i.e. Augustus. Tiberius refused 
the title of patriae pater. Hm. — 22. ter, the conjecture of Heinsius, 
adopted by Merkel and Ky. bona verba, sc. haec. The readings of the 
Mss. are per ox. post or sint, the first of which has been generally adopted: 
per bona verba, amid silence. 

23-68. The Terminalia, Feb. 23d. The maintenance of this, one of 
the primitive Italian festivals, was probably found expedient as one of the 
principal safeguards of landed property. Py. — 25. Cf. Tibullus, I, 11, 12. 

— 26. quoque, i.e. even though represented by an emblem so humble. 
numen habes, i.e. coleris. — 27. doniini, the owners of adjoining lands. 

— 28. bina, here = duo. A. 95, d; G. 95, Rem. 3; H. 174, 2, 4. — 
31. minuit, chops up. — 32. ramos, stakes to serve as a support for the 
pile, which he is building up. Ry. — 33. inritat, excites, coaxes. — 
34. canistra, large, flat, open baskets of wicker-work without handles, 
carried on the head, used to hold the articles employed in sacrificing. See 
Rh. s. v. — 36. incisos favos, the honey-combs already cut across. Py. — 
37. libantur . . . flammis, a portion of each is thrown upon the fia?nes. 
Py. — 38. Candida, dressed in white, linguis favet, observe a soleum 
silence. 

43-62. The song of the people in honor of Terminus. — 44. litigi- 
osus, the subject of lazvsuits. See Lex., s. v. II, B. — 45. ambitio, 
partiality. See Lex., s. v. II, A. — 47. Thyreatida terrain. Thyrea 
was a territory common to the Argives and Spartans, and the subject of the 
well-known contest between three hundred champions on each side, de- 
scribed in Herodotus, I, 82. — 49. Othryades was the Spartan champion, 
who alone survived on his side and raised a trophy on the spot from the 
spoils of the enemy, on which he wrote his name in blood as conqueror, 
and was therefore read on the piled arms. The two surviving Argives ran 
off to announce the supposed victory of their countrymen, while Othryades 
afterwards killed himself on the spot. — 50. quantum sanguinis, sc. 



272 Notes. [vin. 

because the battle was renewed between the two nations, in consequence 
of his claiming the victory. — 51. nova . . . dedit. When the temple 
of Jupiter Capitolinus was to be built, the older shrines and altars on the 
site were cleared away. — 53. An old stone, a long forgotten Ter??iinus, 
was dug up (inventus) and allowed to remain in the new temple. Py. 
Ky. takes in aede as an adjunct of inventus, found in the place selected 
for its site. — 57. post illud, i.e. after resisting Jupiter so effectually, 
there is no reason why you should give way to the encroachments of men 
and allow yourself to be moved for the gratification of unjust cupidity. Ky. 
levitas, movableness. See Lex., s. v. I, B. — 62. tuus suus, the read- 
ing of most Mss., and retained by Merkel. Py. and Ky. reverse this order, 
Hm. reads tuus tuus, and Ry. Metis tuus. Py. doubts the Latinity of 
suus, unless it signify its own property. — 64. Dardanio duci, i.e. 
Aeneas, regna, in apposition with Laurentes agros. — 65. Ilia, sc. 
via. — 66. sextus . . . lapis, the traditional boundary of the ancient Ager 
Romanus. — 68. orbis, the earth, est idem, sc. now. 



VIII. 

The Floralia, the festival in honor of Flora, an Italian deity, the 
goddess of gardens, blossoms, and flowers ; which extended from 
April 28th to May 1st inclusive. 

j 1. ludis iocosis. Originally a festival of the country-people, the 
Floralia was afterwards introduced into Rome (B.C. 238) and other cities, 
where, besides the feasting and merriment, there were theatrical and mimic 
representations, which gradually assumed a more dissolute character; while 
the country-people continued to celebrate it in the old and merry but inno- 
cent manner. See Diet. Antiqq., s. v. — 2. partes tuas, the portion of 
my work which belongs to you. Ry. mense priore. Cf. Bk. IV, 943 : 

" Cum Phrygis Assaraci Tithonia fratre relicto 
Sustulit immenso ter iubar orbe suum, 
Mille venit variis florum dea nexa coronis, 
Scena ioci morem liberioris habet, 
Exit et in Maias sacrum Florale kalendas. 
Tunc repetam : nunc me grandius urget opus." 

— 5. mensum. For the form see A. 59 ; H. 62, V, footnote 3. — 
6. ille vel ille. So Ky., Py., and Hm. ille vel iste is preferred by Pr. 
and Ry. Both readings are found in the Mss. — 7. Circus, sc. Maxi- 
mus, i.e. the Ludi Cir censes, which were exhibited during the Floralia. Ky. 



viii.] Fasti V. 273 

hunc, sc. mensem, exit, extends, clamata palma, the meed of praise, 
proclai??ied with shouts ; palma being used here in a figurative sense, 
probably. — 8. cum . . . munere, with the exhibition in the Circus. 
Hm. eat, pass on, sc. in hunc mensem. So Pr. and Hm. — 10. auctor, 
interpreter. — 13. Chloris . . . sono, a false etymology, of course. See^ 
Lex., s. Chloris. — 15. campi felicis, the isles of the blest, described by 
Hesiod as the happy abode of the champions of the heroic age. Ry. Py. 
remarks : " These (isles of the blest) were not wholly imaginary, but they 
so called the beautiful group of the Canary islands, which had early become 
known to the Greeks by hearsay from Phenician navigators." — 16. rem 
• . . viris, the lot of the blessed heroes once was cast. — 17. forma, beauty, 
as often. — 19. abibam, tried to escape. A. 277, c; G. 224; H. 469, 1. 
— 21. ius omne, full precedent and authority. Pr. — 22. praemia = 
praedam, i.e. Orithyia, the daughter of Erectheus. — 23. nomina. Ovid 
often uses the plural of nouns for the singular. — 24. in toro, i.e. in the 
matter of my marriage. See Lex., s. Torus, IV, B. — 25. Vere semper, 
Cf. Lucretius, V, 153, et seqq. Semper . . . annus, "For me each season 
blooms with beauty" — 26. arbor, used collectively, as is flore, v. 29. 
Various horticultural productions — as fruit and flowers ■ — as well as the 
different species of grain, are, in Latin, named in the singular, when it is 
intended to designate the whole kind, or an indefinite quantity. M. 50, 
Obs. 2. — 27. dotalibus, the epithet applied to anything a wife brings 
to her husband as a marriage portion. — 31. digestos, sc. in horto. See 
III, I, note. — 35. Horae, the goddesses of the seasons. See Lex., s. v. 
III. — 41. Therapnaeo. Therapne, a town on the Eurotas, in Laconia, 
was the birthplace of Hyacinthus, from whose blood sprung a flower 
having words of lamentation inscribed on its petals. For the story see 
Metamorph., X, 162, el seqq. florem, the hyacinthus of the ancients, 
not our hyacinth, but the "Martagon" or "Turks-cap" lily, the petals of 
which are pencilled (scripta) with small black strokes. Py. — 44. alter 
et alter, i.e. because you and your shadow were not different persons. See 
Metamorph., Ill, 407, el seqq. — 45. Attin, changed into a pine. Meta- 
morph., X, 103 ; according to another legend, into a violet. Cinyra cre- 
atum, sc. Adonis, changed into an anemone. Met., X, 734. — 46. de 
quorum, etc. Respecting the order of the words see M. 474. 

47. in . . . tantum coronis esse, is concerned with fragile garlands 
only. Hm. coronis, i.e. the flowers of which garlands were made. — 
48. arva, i.e. the produce of the fields. — 51. floruerint, the emphatic 
word, nitidissimus, shining with oil. — 52. proventum, so several 
of the best Mss., followed by Ry., Pr., and Merkel. poma quoque even- 
turn {the outcome), is preferred by Py. and Hm. temporis hiuius, i.e. 



274 Notes. [ix. 

derived from the flowering season or dependent on it. Pr. — 54. advena, 
foreign. — 55. Vina florent. Flos vini was a technical term for the 
light scum or " crust" (nebulae) which collected on the surface of new 
wine. — 59. idem facimus, bloom in like manner. Hm. But Gierig, 
Py., and Pr. explain : Meum quoque munus est. Flora claims the vigor 
of mind and body in youth as the result of her beneficence and power. Pr. 



IX. 

To his wife Marcia. Written at Tomi, in exile. 

1. Clario poetae, sc. Antimachus of Claros (a small town in Ionia, 
near Colophon), the husband of Lyde. He sought consolation for her 
death in the composition of an elegy called Lyde, which was very cele- 
brated in antiquity. See Diet. Biog. — 2. Coo suo, i.e. Philetas of Cos, 
her lover. — 4. meliore, more affectionate. — 7. His wife, though not 
permitted to accompany him, continued faithful to her husband during his 
long exile, and protected his property from the rapacity of his enemies. — 
12. sub nulla positum humo, i.e. unburied. — 13. rebus acerbis, 
my grievous calamity. — 14. in bona venturus fuit, would have seized 
my estate. See A. 308, b ; G. 599, Rem. 3; H. 5— II, 2. — 20. Ijaoda- 
mia. See I, Introduction to the notes. — 21. Maeonium vatem, i.e. 
Homer, sortita f uisses, sc. to celebrate your worth in song. — 24. cum 
nova luce, sc. of life, i.e. you were born virtuous and noble. — 25. feniina 
princeps, sc. Livia, the wife of Augustus, a personal friend of Marcia. — 
27. assuetudine, intimate association* 



p> 



NOTES TO LUCAN. 



INTRODUCTION. 

MANNAEUS LUCANUS was born in the reign of Caligula, 
• in a.d. 39, at Corduba, one of the oldest Roman colonies in 
Hispania Baetica, surnamed Patricia on account of the large num- 
ber of patricians among the original colonists, from the advantages 
of its location a flourishing commercial city, and generally regarded 
as the capital of the province. 

" The great Iberian peninsula," is the assertion of Merivale in his 
History of the Empire, "was more thoroughly Romanized than any 
other part of the dominions of the republic " ; and for a long period 
in the first century of our era most of the eminent men in literature 
were natives of that country, so that the epoch has been called that 
of the " Spanish latinity." 

To this distinction the family of which Lucan was a member in 
no small degree contributed. He was the son of a wealthy knight, 
L. Annaeus Mela, and Acilia, a Spanish lady of high birth, and thus 
a grandson of M. Annaeus Seneca, the noted rhetorician and a 
nephew of L. Annaeus Seneca, the philosopher. 

Taken to Rome at an early age, in the reign of Claudius, and 
placed under the care of his uncle, he became an intimate friend of 
Persius the satirist, and with him attended the lectures of the Stoic 
Cornutus ; but was especially devoted to the study of rhetoric, and 
with such success as to be entitled ultimately to a place among the 
foremost of his countrymen in the exercise of that art. De Quincey 
remarks : " In the literature of Rome it is that we find the true El 
Dorado of rhetoric, as we might expect from the sinewy compact- 
ness of the language. The two Plinys, Lucan, Petronius Arbiter, 
Ouintilian, but above all the Senecas have left a body of rhetorical 
composition such as no modern nation has rivalled. " 

By his uncle, Lucan was introduced to the acquaintance of Nero, 
a youth of about the same age with himself, and they were com- 



276 Notes. 

panions and fellow-students during the years of Seneca's tutorship 
of the young prince, and on familiar terms for a considerable part 
of Nero's own reign. 

Whether the stories which have been handed down of their rivalry 
in poetic exercises are true or not, it was a fact that Nero after a 
time became jealous of Lucan's brilliant talents and popularity as a 
writer and declaimer of verse, and forbade his continuing to give 
public recitations of his poetry, thus forcing him to a retirement 
favorable to the further cultivation of his poetic genius. 

Influenced, perhaps, partly by a feeling of personal resentment, 
and partly by a love of the old republican liberty which the teach- 
ings of Cornutus had nurtured within him, Lucan became a party 
to the plot of Calpurnius Piso against the emperor's life, was be- 
trayed with his fellow-conspirators, and was compelled to die, in 
a.d. 65, at the age of twenty-six. 

He has been charged with the unnatural and atrocious meanness 
of falsely accusing his mother (with others) of participating in the 
conspiracy, in the hope of thereby saving his own life ; and this 
charge has been accepted as true by many modern writers. But 
Merivale remarks respecting it : " Such charges, it must be remem- 
bered, are commonly made by unscrupulous governments to dis- 
grace a commiserated victim. " And another writer {London Quart. 
Rev., 1869) observes : " Contemporary history is generally little bet- 
ter than a compilation of anecdotes. Such a story may easily have 
been invented by a party whose conscience was haunted with the 
charge of matricide against its patron Nero. Nor is it unlikely that 
it was suggested by the real fact of the mother's influence over her 
son ; by the conviction that it was through his connection by her with 
the ancient aristocracy that he was seduced from the views which 
properly belonged to his position and his paternal ancestors." 

Upon the purity of Lucan's private life no imputation has ever 
been cast. Respecting this Merivale's words are: " By literature 
and possibly by domestic interests Lucan seems to have been saved 
from the contagion around him. No Roman poet dwells with such 
warmth as he on the sentiment of conjugal affection ; which may 
be taken as a tribute perhaps to the merits of a consort worthy of 
his genius. 1 ' 

The Pharsalia (entitled in the Mss., De Bello Civili), Lucan's 
only extant production, is an epic poem of about 8000 lines, in ten 



Luc an, 277 

Books, on the civil war between Caesar and Pompey, which follows 
in the main the historical order of events. Only the first three 
Books were published by the author himself, and the tenth was left 
incomplete at his death. 

The first four Books extend from the opening of the war to the 
decisive campaign in Greece, and, after specifying the causes of the 
war, contain in the first two books an account of Caesar's passage 
of the Rubicon, and pursuit of Pompey and his partisans through 
Italy to Brundusium, and in the third and fourth the story of the 
siege of "Uassilia and the campaign in Spain. 

Of the next four Books, the fifth and sixth are chiefly occupied 
with the siege of Dyrrhachium, the manoeuvres of the two hostile 
armies in Epirus and Thessaly, the battle of Pharsalus, and the flight 
and death of Pompey. 

In the last two books are narrated the movements of the rem- 
nants of Pompey's forces under Scipio and Cato to Africa and in 
that country, and the voyage of Caesar to Egypt, his experience of 
siege in Alexandria, his capture of Pharos, and the continuance of 
the war. 

The character of this poem is fairly discussed and its chief defects 
pointed out and commented upon by Merivale and Cruttwell. 

The former (Chap. LIV) touches upon Lucan's partisanship of 
the Senate rather than of the people, his affectation of encyclopaedic 
knowledge, his ever-recurring pictures of physical suffering, and his 
vague and uncertain views of philosophy ; yet adds: " The reality 
of the future life as a state of retribution is strongly set forth in 
many passages. The poem, considering the atmosphere of volup- 
tuousness in which he moved, is singularly free from all indelicacy 
of thought and language, and its purity is equal to that of the 
Aeneid. Lucan's moral perceptions are a very fair reflection of the 
teaching of his masters the Stoics.'" 

Cruttwell specifies among the worst faults of the Pharsalia, the 
unfitness of the theme for epic treatment, its lack of unity, the 
author's tirades on commonplace themes, his skeptical tone, his 
love for the ghastly and the revolting, his habitual exaggeration, 
and the total deficiency of his poetical art in variety. This critic, 
however, also remarks : 

" Poetry of the first order the Pharsalia certainly is not, but those who will 
forgive artistic defects for energy of thought and strength of feeling must always 



278 Notes. 

retain a strong admiration for its noble imperfections. In description Lucan 
is excellent both in action and still life, but more in brilliancy of detail than in 
broad effects. He has a true opinion of the importance of the Civil War, 
which he judges to be the final crisis of Rome's history and its issues fraught 
with superhuman grandeur. In splendid extravagance of expression no Latin 
author comes near him. Some of his lines embody a condensed trenchant 
vigor which has made them proverbs. Phrases like Trahimur sub ?iomine 
pacts, — Momentumque fuit mutatus Curio rerum, recall the pen of Tacitus. 
Others are finer still. Caesar's energy is rivalled by the line — Nil actum ere- 
dens du7n quid superesset agendum. The duty of securing liberty, even at the 
cost of blood, was never more finely expressed than by the noble words : 
Ignoratque datos ne quisquam serviat emes. Curio's treachery is pilloried in 
the epigram, E?nere omnes, hie vendidit (Jrbem. The mingled cowardice and 
folly of servile obedience is nobly expressed by his reproach to the people : 
Usque adeone times, quern tu facis ipse timendum. 

11 Instead of the inextricable harmonies of Virgil's cadence, we have a suc- 
cession of rich, forcible, and polished monotonous lines, rushing on without a 
thought of change until the period closes. The same caesuras recur again and 
again, and the only merit of his rhythm is its undeniable originality." 

" The Pharsalia is defaced with great faults and blemishes. It is disfigured 
by commonplace maxims, pompous diction, an affectation of learning, and a 
rhetorical exuberance, which outstripped its subjects. But at the same time 
it possesses peculiar beauties. Its subject is a noble one and full of historic 
interest, and is treated with spirit, brilliance, and animation. Its arrangement 
is that of annals, and therefore it wants the unity of an epic poem ; it has not 
the connectedness of history, because the poet naturally selected only the most 
striking and romantic incidents, and yet notwithstanding these defects in the 
plan, the historical pictures themselves are beautifully drawn. The characters 
of Caesar and Pompey, for example, are masterpieces. Our admiration of 
Lucan is called forth, not by considering his poem as an epic, but for the sake 
of isolated scenes, such as the naval victory off Marseilles ; splendid descrip- 
tions, such as that of the cruelties of Marius and Sulla ; felicitous comparisons, 
that for example of Pompey to an aged oak, and the epigrammatic terseness 
which gives force as well as beauty to his sayings." — BROWNE. 

"The brief and pregnant criticism of Quintilian — Lucanus ardens et con- 
citatus et sententiis clarissimus et magis orator id us quam poet is imitandus (10, I, 
90) — suggests at once the chief merits and defects of Lucan as a poet. The 
latter may be said to belong as much to the age as to the author. The 
same predominance of declamation, the same over-fondness for minute and 
often painful description, the same want of real, with exuberance of spas- 
modic, feeling, the same parade of erudition and moralizing sententiousness, 
that were noticed in the plays of Seneca, pervade the Epic of Lucan. On the 
other hand, the vigor and originality, the boldness and fertility of his genius, 
stamp him as a man of great powers and claim for him a very high rank among 
the poets of the Silver Age. Fine delineation of character, noble sentiments 



Lucan. 279 



happily expressed, speeches full of passion and thought, are scattered through- 
out the Pharsalia. Nor was his influence unfelt upon the literature of his 
country. His elaborate descriptions added to the vocabulary of Latin poetry. 
His intellectual self-confidence and independence of the traditional language 
of verse afforded him no scruples in the creation of novel constructions, and in 
the adoption of prosaic though significant phrases, occasionally reminding us 
of the manner of Tacitus. His versification resembles that of Ovid rather than 
Virgil, though vastly inferior to either." — PlNDER. 



BOOK I. 



Vs. I-182. The Introduction: 

1-7. The announcement of the subject; 8-32. The character of the 
war; 3-45. The address to Nero. 

I. per canipos, i.e. in campis. Cf. II, 90. Emathios, Thessalian. 
Though a part of Macedonia, the name was loosely applied by the poets 
to Thessaly. They also often confounded the battle-fields of Pharsalus and 
Philippi. plus quam civilia, because it was not only between citizens 
but relatives, and because Caesar seemed to be making war against the 
Roman empire and people ; perhaps also because foreign nations were 
involved in it. — 2. ius, frequently used by Lucan and others for su?n?7ia 
potestas, imperium. sceleri, audacity in undertaking the civil war, then 
the war itself, finally Caesar who waged the war. We. — 3. viscera, vitals. 
— 4. regni, tyranny, i.e. the so-called triumvirate of Caesar, Pompey, 
and Crassus. — 5. certatum, a co?iflict, here a substantive for quod 
certatum est. Cf. v. 70, negatum ; 462, ignarum. See M. 424, c. — 
6. in . . . nefas, doomed to end in general guilt. H. — 7. pares, matched 
in fight. The standards and weapons peculiar to a Roman army were 
found on both sides. 

9. invisis, i.e. infestis, as in v. 488 ; II, 227 ; IV, 788. — 10. Babylon, 
used loosely for the Parthians. trophaeis, i.e. the standards of Crassus, 
slain by the Parthians, B.C. 51. — 11. erraret, sc. because unburied. — 
12. nullos . . . triumphos, because no triumph was allowed for a vic- 
tory in civil war. — 15. unde, etc., periphrasis for the four quarters of the 
heavens and the earth. Titan, the sun-god. nox . . . condit, i.e. the 
west, because the stars disappear in the west last. — 16. flagrantibus 
horis = aestate. — 19. barbarus Araxes, i.e. the savage tribes on the 
river Araxes in Armenia. — 20. iacet . . . Nilo, " lies privy to the sources 
of the Nile." — 23. nondum liostis, " never yet hast thou felt the want 



280 Notes. [book i. 

of a foeP — 24. The force of quod, which here announces the subject of 
remark, extends to the end of v. 29. See A. 333, a ; G. 525, Rem. 2 ; 
H. 516, 2, note. — 29. poscentibus, that call for them. — 31. erit, i.e. 
will be found to have been, by one hereafter inquiring, nulli ferro, sc. 
of a foreign enemy, penitus, i.e. so as to destroy the life and liberty of 
the republic, discindere, sc. co?'pus Romani imperii. — 34. magno, 
ablative of price. — 37. iam querinmr, we co?nplain no more. H. — 
38. hac mercede, sc. the elevation of Nero to the throne. — 39. satu- 
rentur sanguine, sc. at the battle of Thapsus in Africa, between Caesar 
and the partisans of Pompey. — 40. ultima. The battle of Munda in 
Spain (B.C. 45) was the last one of the civil war. — 41. Perusina fames, 
refers to the siege of L. Antonius in Perusia, by Octavian, B.C. 41. Mutinae, 
the city in which Decimus Brutus was besieged by Antony, B.C. 43, and 
in the battles near which the consuls Hirtius and Pansa were killed. — 
42. fatis, destined events. — 43. Leucas, an island off Acarnania, loosely 
put for Actium. servilia bella, the war with Sextus Pompey in Sicily 
(B.C. 42-36), who filled up his army with slaves. — 45. tibi, emphatic. 

Vs. 46-76. General causes of the civil war ; 77-107. Particular causes; 
108-136. Comparison between Caesar and Pompey; 137-161. Corruption 
of the times; 162-206. Caesar's passage of the Rubicon. 

46. rerum, events. — 49. Invida . . . series specifies the first cause. 
summis . . . stare diu, the doom of all that is highest to speedy fall. H. 
Cf. v. 5. — 51. nee . . . ferens = et . . . non ferens. Cf. Hor. Epod. XVI, 2 : 
suis et ipsa Roma viribus ruit ; Livy, Pref. 4 : ut iam magnitudine labor et 
sua. — 52. saecula . . . mundi, i.e. the universe which has lasted so 
many ages, coegerit, brought to an end. — 53. mixtis, hypallage for 
mixta. Cf. Virg. Ed. X, 55 : i7iterea mixtis lustrabo Maenala nymphis. — 
56. excutietque, and will not repel. The force of the negative particle 
in nolet is carried on to the second clause. Cf. Bk. IX, v. 59. contraria, 
i.e. will not follow the sun in the appointed and usual course through the 
Zodiac. Var. — 57. obliquum orbem, sc. the Zodiac. — 59. divulsi, 
proleptic. See H. 440, 2. foedera. See Lex., s. v. II, B. — 60. In se 
ruunt, work their own ruin. H. — 61. gentibus ullis, i.e. any foreign 
nations. So also in v. 72. — 62. commodat invidiam suam, lend the 
weapons of her envy. H. — 63. Tu caussa, etc., specifies the second cause. 

— 65. turbam, sc. the members of the first Triumvirate. Cf. Ovid, Fasti, 
II, 716: credula turba, i.e. Titus and Aruns ; V, 108: turbae idem, i.e. 
two of the Muses, missi, i.e. safely ejitrusted. — 66. male, i.e. for evil. 

— 67. miscere, to combine, orbem, sc. terrarum. — 68. in medio, in 
common tenure. Wr. ; as a prize to be fought for. We. levabit, shall 
uphold. — 69. volvent, i.e. keep the sun rolling in his course. — 70. to- 



book i.] Lucan. 281 

tidem, as many, i.e. six signs of the Zodiac. — 73. credite, i.e. It is not 
necessary to rely upon the experience of. fatorum, ruin. — 76. com- 
misit. See Lex., s. v. II, B; and cf. Juv. I, 162 : securus licet Aenean 
Rutulumque ferocem committas. 

77. The third cause — the death of Crassus. Temporis, either a rare 
use of the genitive to denote duration of time : The jarring concord en- 
dured for a short space ; or the short-lived concord endured, but 'twas a 
jarring concord ; discors being taken as part of the predicate. H. — 
80. Isthmos, sc. of Corinth. — 81. conferre, sc. mare; with fretum, 
to join its waters ; i.e. the Corinthian and Saronic gulfs. Cf. II, 578. — 

82. Ionium . • . mare, will dash the Ionian Sea against the Aegean. — 

83. dirimens, concisely, for a relative clause. — 85. Parthica damna, 
the disasters in Parthia. H. solverunt, let loose. — Sj. Arsacidae, 
vocative case. — 90. cepit, could not contain. The fourth cause, the 
death of Julia the daughter of Caesar and wife of Pompey, who died 
B.C. 54. pignora may refer to her child who died a few days before 
its mother, but more probably to the marriage connection itself. We. — 
91. tedas, the marriage torches. Cf. Ovid, VI, 25-30. ferales, perhaps 
because she died so soon. — 93. Notice the mixed condition, Quodsi 
dedissent followed by poteras. See A. 308, b; G. 599, 3; H. 511, 1. 

— 98. fides, mutual confidence, one of Lucan's favorite abstract terms 
used in various senses. Pr. 

99. Stimulos . . . virtus, the. fifth cause — the rival genius and temper 
of the leaders. Pr. — 100. nova facta, i.e. Caesar's recent victories. 
triumphos, sc. yours. — 101. piratica laurea, alludes to the subjugation 
of the Cilician pirates by Pompey, B.C. 67. — 102. te, sc. O Caesar, iam, 
here, perhaps, not with the temporal force of long since, but used to mark 
the transition to a different subject ; but in v. 104, e= any longer. Pr. — 
105. Quis = Uter, a use very rare until after the Augustan age. But cf. 
Virg. Aen., XII, 719 and 727. induit, the indicative in an indirect question, 
also rare in the classic poets. See M. 556, Obs. 3. — 106. scire nefas, 
i.e. " It is not permitted for man to know or to decide a case, when such 
judges as the gods and Cato took opposite sides." Pr. quisque = titer que. 

— 107. sed victa Catoni, sc. as adhering to Pompey after his defeat. — 
108. pares, equally matched. — in. multa, i.e. public spectacles, games, 
and largesses, dare, historical infinitive. A. 275 ; G. 650; H. 536, 1. — 
112. sui theatri, the first stone theatre in Rome, which Pompey had built 
B.C. 55. — 113. novas, i.e. regain his strength afresh, que = but. See 
M. 433, Obs. 2 : If a negative proposition is followed by an affirmative, in 
which the same thought is expressed or continued, que, et, or ac is employed 
in Latin, when in English we use but. — 1 14. Stat, sc. Pompey. magni 



282 Notes. [book i. 

nominis, sc. his title Magnus, umbra, sc. quod iam desiit esse, ut liber- 
tatis umbra. We. — 117. radicibus, ablative. — 118. nudos, leafless. — 
121. robore, trunk. — 122. tantum, Pr. takes as an adverb : only ; We. 
and H. as = so great, sc. as that of Pompey. — 124. stare loco, to remain 
idle. For the construction see A. 273, d. ; G. 429, 4 ; H. 533, II, 3, note 2; 
and for that of vincere, Roby, 1360; G. 429, 3; H. 533, II, 3, note 3. — 
126. ferre and parcere, historical infinitives, temerando . . . ferro, 
shrunk fro??i dyeing the sword i?t blood. Pr. — 127. urgere, followed up. 
See Lex., s.v. II, B. — 128. impellens, overthrozving and removing. — 
130. Qualiter, i.e. ita viam ruina faciebat qualiter, a form first used 
by Ovid. Pr. expressum ventis, forced out by the winds. The Stoics 
thought the lightning was caused by the winds driving the clouds against 
each other. Pr. — 132. rupit diem, has riven the sky ; dies in Lucan 
being often put for the air. Pr. — 133. obliqua . . . llamma, blinding 
their eyes with its forked flame. — 134. sua templa, i.e. the clouds. On 
the meaning of templa see Lucretius, II, 8, note. — 135, cadens, sc. in 
terra?n et inde revertens. 

137. caussae suberant, were the hidden motives, sed publica . . . 
semina, etc., the sixth cause, the demoralization of Roman society through 
avarice and luxury, promoted by foreign conquest, publica, emphatic, 
in the state, and contrasted with both ducibus and suberant. Pr. — 
143. cultus, rich and splendid garments of silk and other costly material, 
worn by women, gestare nuribus, for gestari a nuribus ; nuribus is 
a dative depending on decoros, and the infinitive is used epexegetically. 
See Lex., s. Nurus. — 144. fecunda, i.e. quae viros fortes procrea- 
vit. We. — 146. quo perit, i.e. luxus, vitiorum materia, longos . . • 
fines, i.e. unite wide farms that hitherto had been separate, longos may 
be proleptic = so as to make extensive farms. Pr. iungere, historical in- 
finitive. — 149. ignotis, sc. to the owners, because their estates were so 
large. So We. But Pr. takes it with colonis to mean foreign peasants, 
imported slaves. — 151. quern . . . armis, for wht>m its own freedom 
would suffice. H. — 153. vile, predicate, sc. putabatur ; the crime to 
which poverty had incited, was held as nothing. — 154. plus . . . sua, 
to have proved more powerful than one's own country. — 155. coactae, 
carried through by force. PI. — 156. cum consulibus . . . tribuni, 
tribunes, the champions of the people, now conspiring with the consuls to 
overthrew the rights of the people. — 157. rapti fasces, i.e. consulatus 
acquisitus. We. sector ipse, itself the seller, i.e. without employing any 
agent or broker. See Lex., s. Sector, II, B. — 158. ambitus, the solicit- 
ing of office by unlawful means, especially by bribery, while ambitio meant 
a canvassing by just and lawful means. — 159. annua certamina 



book in.] Lucan. 283 

Campo, i.e. the yearly elections in the Campus Martius. — 160. in tem- 
pora, either greedily looking for the tii?ies of 'payment, i.e. the Kalends, etc. 
(Cf. Hor. Ep. II, 69, Sat. I, hi, 87); or money lent at usurious interest for 
stated periods ; or possibly as times went on. — 161. fides, credit. 

162. lam, Already. — 167. turrigero, i.e. representing the towers of 
the city walls. — 171. hue usque = hactenus, i.e. you 771 ay go no further. 
— 173. languor, faintheartedness, irresolutio7i. H. — 176. secreta, 
the 77iysteries or festival of the Quiri7ialia on the 17th of February, in 
honor of Romulus, rapti, sc. 171 coelum. — 178. summi . . . instar. 
The Be a Roma was the personification or genius of the city of Rome, 
represented as clad in a long robe, and with a helmet, in a sitting posture, 
worshipped from early times, but without any temple dedicated to her until 
the reign of Augustus. — 182. hostem, antithetic to cives, v. 171. — 
184. squalen tibus, untilled. — 189. levis, agile, or light ar77ied. — 
191. per ferrum, i.e. through the opposing spears. H. exit, sc. 171 ve7ia- 
tore?7i. — 193. puniceus. The Rubicon was supposed to have derived its 
name from the red7iess of the gravel in its bed. — 196. Turn . . . hiems, 
Caesar crossed the Rubicon near the end of January. — 197. tertia Cyn- 
thia, is the third night from the new moon, which very generally brings 
rain. Hence the moon portending rain is called gravida. The sense is : 
it had now rained three nights. We. — 198. Alpes, i.e. the snow on the 
77iountai7is. See Lex., s. v. IV. — 200. excepturas aquas, to break the 
force of the waters, molli vado, with easy passage. — 204. temerata 
iura, 77iy rights violated, etc., by Pompey and the Senatorial party. — 
206. iudice, as our U77ipire. 



BOOK III. 

Vs. 1— II: The stege of Massilia. 12-65: Description of a sacred 
grove near the city, and its destruction. 

1. satis, i.e. valde et appri7ne, an adjunct of memorandum. — 
2. non impulsa, i.e. 7ion prior lacessita stati7n bello a Caesare, sc. before 
they had received ambassadors and decided not to admit Caesar's forces 
within their walls. We. — 3. flagrantis in omnia, i.e. as if threatening 
the whole world. We. — 4. raptis, sc. with the greatest celerity. — 
5. mora, i.e. longa obsidio7ie. Quantum, Of how great i77iporta7ice. — 
7. hos dies, sc. of the siege. — 10. suspendant, i.e. fulcia7it. — 
11. The subject of arctet is robur, i.e. the material, cedat turribus, 
i.e. be broken down by the towers brought up to the walls upon it. 



284 Notes. [book hi. 

12. violatus, profaned by axe. — 13. obscurum . . . ramis, within 
its interlacing boughs enclosing a darkened atmosphere. Pr. ramis an 
adjunct of cingens. — 14. alte . • . solibus, lit. the rays of the sun re- 
pelled high up, i.e. by the height and thickness of the foliage. Pr. — 
16. barbara ritu, sc. because of their human sacrifices. — 17. arae, the 
base or pedestal of the altar. — 19. superos . . . vetustas, an age rever- 
encing the gods, i.e. religious antiquity. — 22. On the force of que see 
Book I, v. 56. — 23. fulgura, sc. incubuere. praebentibus, equivalent 
to a concessive clause. — 24. suus, peculiar to itself not disturbed by the 
winds. We. horror, stiffness, inflexibility, as of hair or bristles. We.; 
shivering. Pr. — 27. situs, mould. See Lex., s.v. Ill, 1. putri robore, 
of the crumbling images. Pr. — 28. attonitos, sc. accolas. We. takes 
non as an adjunct of metuunt and vulgatis as = vulgo consuetis ; Pr. 
takes non vulgatis together, tmusual. — 30. nosse used substantively 
and the subject of the sentence. lam fama, etc. Another cause for their 
fears was the tales told of the place. — 32. procumbentes . . . consur- 
gere, when cut down grew up a second time. We. Pr. understands pro- 
cumbentes, falling of themselves. — ^. non ardentis, i.e. not consuffied. 
We. — 35. ilium, sc. luctim. Non cultu propiore frequentant, i.e. 
non intrant, non accedant propius ad deos illos venerandos. We. — 
36. cessere, sc. lucum. 

39. iubet, sc. Caesar. — 40. operi, the siege-works. — 44. redituras, 
i.e. recisuras. — 45. torpore, sc. caused by fear. — 50. me, emphatic. — 
52. expensa, weighing Caesar's anger against that of the gods. Pr. — 

54. Dodones, the Greek genitive. We. Pr. following some of the Mss. 
has the adjective Dodonis, i.e. the oaks consecrated to Dodonean Jupiter. 
Cf. VI, 427. fluctibus . . . alnus, It was much used in shipbuilding. — 

55. cupressus, on account of its rareness and costliness only planted at 
the graves of the wealthy. Cf. Hor. O. II, xiv, 23. — 56. comas. Cf. 
Catull. Ill, 11. — 57. robore denso, ablative absolute, so thick were the 
trees. Pr. ^-58. cadens, i.e. quominus caderet. Pr. — 61. fortuna, here 
success ; because they are successful, many wicked are preserved. — 64. fe- 
runt, sc. ligna ad agger em. soli . . . aratro, of the field unturned by the 
plough. We. — 65. annum, the produce of the year. See Lex., s. v. II, B. 



books iv, v.] Lucan. 285 



BOOK IV. 

The friendly feeling between the soldiers of the camps of Caesar 
and Pompey in the campaign in Spain, Cf. Caesar, De Bello Civill, 
1,74- 

I. Dixit, sc. Caesar. — 3. spatio, sc. interposito, languentia, i.e. 
quod fallebantur. — 6. deprensum, i.e. they suddenly discerned how 
wicked the civil war was, which they were waging, tenuere ora, re- 
frained from crying out to one another. We. — 12. adnionet . . . pue- 
rilibus, i.e. reducit ad memoriam, qualiter fuerunt similes in puerilibus 
studiis. Wr. — 13. nee Roinanus, etc., i.e. all in each camp recognized 
in the other some relative or friend. — 14. runipunt, for intcrrwnpunt. 
— 16. pulsas, sc. for grief because of the civil war. — 19. quern, sc. 
Caesar. — 21. ferant, sc. the standard-bearers, iamiam, very soon, the 
force of the particle strengthened by repetition. — 25. orbis, i.e. who dost 
embrace all the world and reign in it. We. Cf. Lucretius, I, 1, et seqq. 
saecula nostra, i.e. this very moment of truce between the Caesarians 
and Pompeians, which the poet conceives of as present. — 26. venturi 
discrimen, i.e. periculum instantium malorum. latebrae, i.e. igno- 
rance that those against whom they were fighting were their relatives and 
friends. — 28. numine sinistro, ablative of characteristic, = valde ad- 
versa. — 31. mensas, the feast. See Lex., s. v. II, A. — 34. fabula = 
confabulatio. — 35. qua, i.e. quam forti. We. — 37. negant, disagree. 
quod petebant, to be taken with the following clause. — 39. crevit, 
was aggravated, amore, sc. just now exhibited to one another. 



BOOK V. 

Caesar's passage of the Adriatic from the coast of Epirus to 
Brundusium. The storm. His arrival in Italy. Cf. Mommsen, 
IV, 486. 

1. His vocibus, i.e. the messages which the poet has just represented 
Caesar as sending to Antony who was at this time at Brundusium with a 
part of the army. — 2. cessare, sc. Antonium. — 5. iussi, sc. to cross, 
has a concessive force. — 6. cessisse, have turned out well. — 9. in 
quorum . . . minor, i.e. who on account of their humble condition sleep 
more soundly than great leaders. We. — II. tertia . . . secundos, i.e. it 



286 Notes. [book v. 

was the third hour of the second watch. The time from sunset to sunrise 
was divided into four vigiliae, each containing three horae noctis. — 
16. fallere posset, sc. ipse eos. — 22. phaselo. See Catullus III, 1, 
note. — 23. liniina commovit, knocked at the door. — 27. aggere, foco 
quasi e cespite facto. We. — 29. pavit, mctrivit. — 37. laxa, enlarge. — 
39. manibus, sc. opere faciendo. 

44. Multa, sc. prognostica. nocturno, i.e. this night. — 46. Noton 
altera, etc. The sun sent forth rays in different directions, so that on the 
one side it portended the South wind and on the other the North wind. 
For thus the scattered rays signify rains and wind according to Pliny. We. 

— 47. diducta, divided. — 48. Orbe . . . medio. The orb of the sun 
itself had a feeble light. — 50. non gracili, sc. but as it were blunted. 
Cf. Virg. Georg., I, 433. — 51. aut exesa, i.e. nee exesa, hollowed out. 
puros, i.e. non nube maculata. — 52. tenuata, the opposite of obtusa. 

— 55. ictus, the beating of the waves. — 56. incertus, restless. — 57. sic- 
cum, sc. litus. Cf. Virg. Georg., I, 361. — 58. natanti, flying. See 
Lex., s. v. I, B. 5. — 59. spargens, eager to sprinkle, occupet, would 
anticipate. 

65. quorum, sc. ventorum. lapsa sidera, meteors. — 66. dispersos 
traxere sulcos, i.e. left traces of themselves in the air. We. — 68. horror, 
roughness, when the waves rise. — 69. volumina, whirls, eddies. — 71 . tur- 
bida . . . ventos, the sea agitated by diverse blasts testifies that different 
winds threaten. Var. — 72. rector trepidae ratis, hypallage for rector 
trepidus ratis. — 78. convertere, to reverse. — 79. litora, sc. of Epirus. 

— 80. ne sit . . . tellus, let not, etc. — 8^. Italiam, sc. petere. coelo 
auctore = vento prohibente. — 84. me, sc. auctore. pete, sc. illam. — 
86. de quo, etc., sc. because Fortune generally anticipates his wishes. We. 

— 90. Nee longa . . . mora, i.e. the winds will not rage a long ti7?ie. We. 

— 92. ista ratis, i.e. quod nostra navis nunc iis vehitur. We. proxima 
litora, sc. of Epirus. — 93. Calabro portu, i.e. Brundusium. — 94. cum 
. . . dari, i.e. as soon as you have entrusted the ship to the winds so that 
we cannot return. We. — 95. tanta strage, in so furious a storm. — 
97. quid praestet mini, i.e. how much she favors me. We. — 99. super 
malum tulit, i.e. wrapped around the mast. We. — 101. ruunt = im*- 
unt. — 105. Occurrit, rushes to meet it, sc. from another quarter. — 
108. vada fecit, almost laid bare the bottom of the sea. We. 

113. bellis, i.e. to complete the war. — 117. inimica arma, sc. of 
Pompeius, who retreated, through fear of me. — 119. iussa plebe, i.e. 
compelled to elect me. Var. — 124. privatum, i.e. not yet a king 
(Grotius) ; after the manner of a private man, with a silent death. Var. 

— 128. decimus = decimanus, i?nmense. — 129. levat, raises up aloft. 



book vi.] Lucan. 287 

— 130. aggere, the wave, pertulit, sc. in terrain. — 132. Pariter, 

At the same ti?ne. — 133. recepit, regained. 

" One of the most effective scenes in the poem is Caesar's night voyage in a 
skiff over a stormy sea. The fisherman to whom he applies is unwilling to set 
sail. The night, he says, shows many threatening signs, and by way of deter- 
ring Caesar, he enumerates the entire list of prognostics to be found in Aratus, 
Hesiod, and Virgil, with great piquancy of touch, though without the least refer- 
ence to the propriety of the situation." — Cruttwell. 



BOOK VI. 

Ox the eve of the battle of Pharsalus, Sextus Pompey seeks an 
interview with a Thessalian enchantress Erichtho, and asks her to 
reveal to him the issue of the battle (vs. 423; 592). Complying 
with his request, she conveys to her cave the body of a soldier re- 
cently slain, by her incantations restores it to life, and commands 
that the soldier foretell the destinies of Pompey (oniina Pomfieiana 
canat, v. 716). His disclosure in obedience to her mandate. 

I. Addidit, sc. Erichtho. carmen, a magic formula , or incantation. 
umbrani, i.e. the soldier whose spirit now reanimated his body, and who 
is referred to in the next line under the term cadaver. — 3. Parcarum. 
Cf. Catull. XIII, 305-319; Tibull. Ill, 1, 2. — 4. tacitae . . . ripae, i.e. 
having but just entered the borders of the realms of the dead, ripae, 
sc. of the river Acheron. — 7. impia arma, sc. of the civil war between 
Caesar and Pompey. — 8. Cf. Tibull. II, 57-78. — 9. diversi, i.e. coming 
from a different region. We. — 12. lustrales, making expiation, devoting 
themselves to the gods of the dead as a sacrifice for the nation. — 13. de 
te . . . querentem, sc. because Caesar was crushing the patrician party. 

— 14. Scipio, sc. Africanus Minor. — 15. sobolem, L. Scipio, the 
father-in-law of Pompey. — 16. non servituri nepotis, Cato Uticensis, 
who committed suicide rather than surrender to Caesar. — 18. gauden- 
tem, sc. because he foresees that his descendant Brutus is to slay Caesar. 

— 20. nudi. The family of Cethegi seem to have kept up an old fashion 
of wearing their arms bare. Cf. II, 543 : exsertiqne manus vesana 
Cethegi, where the reference is (as here) to the associate of Catiline; Hor. 
A. P. 50 : cinctntis Cethegis. — 21. Drusos. The reference is to M. Livius 
Drusus, a tribune of the people in the time of the Gracchi. — 22. legi- 
bus, sc. ferendis. — 25. poseit, i.e. wish to take possession of. posses- 
sor, Pluto. — 26. saxa asperat, sc. to use as instruments of torture. — 



288 Notes. [book ix. 

28. victori, sc. Caesar. — 29. invenis, Sextus Pompey. — 30. in parte 
serena, i.e. the Elysian fields. — 32. vitae, sc. of Caesar. — 34. parvis 
bustis, i.e. a burial without imposing funeral rites. — 35. Romanorum 
deoruni, i.e. victorious generals, who shall attain supreme power after 
you, but after death shall be placed under your feet, when you shall be in 
Elysium and they in Tartarus. We. — 36. Nili unda, not far from which 
the body of Pompey was buried. Tybridis unda, near which in the 
Campus Martius the body of Caesar was burnt. — 38. Tu, i.e. Sextus. — 
40. genitor, thy father. Siculis in arvis. We. thinks there is a refer- 
ence here to a part of the poem which Lucan did not live to write, in which, 
in imitation of the shade of Anchises predicting to Aeneas his destiny, 
Pompey was to appear to his son in his Sicilian campaign and reveal to 
him his destiny. — 43. Europam . . .timete, i.e. no part of the world will 
be safe for you. — 44. vestris triumphis, according to your triiwiphs. 
Pompey had triumphed for his victory over the remnant of the Marian 
faction and its allies in Africa, over Sertorius in Spain, over Mithridates in 
Asia. He himself was to fall in a part of Africa, his son Cneius in Spain 
after the battle of Munda, and Sextus while a captive at Miletus in Asia. — 
46. tutius Emathia, i.e. Though defeated at the battle of Pharsalus yom 
will escape from Thessaly alive, peregit, sc. the soldier recalled to life. 
fata, the result of the war and the fate of Pompey. 



BOOK IX. 

1-35. The soul of Pompey ascends to the celestial regions, and looking 
down thence upon the earth imparts to Brutus and Cato a spirit of devotion 
to his cause. Cato conducts the remnant of Pompey's army to Corcyra. 

1. Pharia favilla, the ashes of Pompey's body burned on the shore 
of Egypt, manes, his spirit. — 5. niger aer, the at?nosphere black in 
comparison with the brightness of the ether and the stars. — 7. ignea. 
See Lex., s. v. II ; and cf. Virg. Aen. 9 VI, 730 : Igneus est illis vigor. — 
8. innocnos vita, for a causal clause. We. patientes, capable of 
existing in the heat of the lowest part of the ether. — 9. collegit in 
orbes, united with the eternal spheres. We. Merivale refers to this 
" sublime canonization of Pompey," together with VI, 782, seqq. and VII, 
816, seqq. as chief among the many passages in which Lucan "strongly 
sets forth the reality of the future life as a state of retribution." — 10. Non 
illuc, sc. semper, auro positi, buried in gilded coffins, i.e. great generals. 
— 14. sui trunci, of his headless body. — 17. vindex, the avenger. — 



book ix.] Lucan. 289 

19. Ille, sc. Cato. pendebant casus, i.e. while the issue of the war was 
uncertain. — 21. et, also, sc. as well as Caesar. — 25. excepit, sc. in 
tutelam suam, to be supplied from tutore. — 29. totae partes, sc. of 
Pompey. — 32. inille, used indefinitely for a large number. The number 
of vessels was said to have been about three hundred. — 33. fragmenta 
ruinae, the remains of the ar?jiy. — 35. arctasse, covered, sc. by their 
number. 

109-140; 167-217. 

Cornelia, the wife of Pompey, after witnessing the burning of 
his body, sails to Cyprus, and thence to Africa to join Cato and 
Cneius Pompey. The announcement to them of Pompey 's death. 
Cornelia performs funeral rites in his honor, and Cato pronounces a 
eulogy upon him. 

I. Sic ubi fata, sc. Cornelia, whose words on beholding the funeral 
pile of her husband are contained in vs. 55-108. — 2. puppis delituit, 
sc. on the voyage from Egypt to Africa. — 6. clamor, sc. of the sailors 
in a storm. — 7. contraria, i.e. praying that the ship might sink. — 
13. Magnus, i.e. Cneius Pompey, the eldest son. — 14. fratrem, i.e. 
Sextus Pompey, who was with their mother Cornelia. — 16. Romana, 
i.e. res Romanas. — 19. audis, i.e. only hear. — 20. spectato geni- 
tore, sc.when murdered. — 21. dignoque, i.e. nee digno ; after the usage 
of Lucan. We. — 22. rege impuro, sc. Ptolemy, licentious and treacher- 
ous in his conduct. — 23. hospitii superis, the gods who preside over 
hospitality. — 24. proavos, sc. of Ptolemy, to whom Pompey had restored 
their kingdom (donati regni). — 26. tantum, i.e. to perpetrate so base a 
deed. — 27. socerum, i.e. Caesar. — 32. sceleris . . . fidem, a proof 
that Pompey had been killed. 

35. exemplo carens, beyond precedent. — 38. Cornelia, "the only 
female character [in the Pharsalia] that calls for notice. She is drawn 
with breadth and sympathy, and bears all the traits of a great Roman 
matron." Cruttwell. — 40. sociae terrae, i.e. Africa, where Cato and 
Cn. Pompey were. — 42. impressas auro, i.e. which were ornamented 
with gold. We. — 43. pictas, sc. with palms; togas, worn by victorious 
generals in the triumphal processions which marched to the temple of 
Jupiter. See Book VI, 44, note. — 45. Accipit . . . pietas, All the rest 
of the Romans {through their affection for their leader) follozv her exa?nple. 

— 48. submittere, lit. to cause to spring up, to grow. Cf. Lucretius, I, 8. 

— 49. hibernas, i.e. withered and worthless and hindering the germina- 
tion of a new crop. — 53. omne quod, etc., i.e. omne Mud quod vul- 



290 Notes. [book ix. 

gus audet conferre convicia in deos et per quod obicit Pompeium 
diis, noil pervenit, etc. Wr. — 55. veri, an adjunct of pleno. — 
56. multo . . . iuris, i.e. who, in comparison with the statesmen of the 
republic in its best days, exhibited less moderation in the exercise of the 
highest power. We. — 58. cui, sc. Cato. — 59. solus privatus, i.e. alone 
of the chiefs conducted himself as a private man, although the common 
people were ready to become subject to him. We. — 64. intulit, sc. into 
the state treasury. — 70. Olim, Long ago. — 72. ncta, sc. fides. — 73. frons, 
sc. fortitudinis et audaciae virilitalisque. We. — 74. summa dies, i.e. 
death ; non enirn passus depositionem, sed si/uui imperium et vitam ami- 
sit. Wr. — 75. quaerendos, i.e. which now that he was conquered ought 
to be welcomed by him. Wr. — 76. regno, emphatic, implying the humili- 
ation of living in private life at the pleasure of his rival now a sovereign. 
W T e. however takes the verse as ironically said. — 77. scire mori, = quae- 
rere mortem. Wr.; mortem sibi consciscere. Var. sors prima, the best 
lot, the highest happiness. — 79. talem lubam, sc. as Ptolemy was to 
Pompey. hosti, sc. Caesar. 

" There are two passages in Lucan which surpass in eloquence anything 
that I know in the Latin language. One is the character which Cato gives of 
Pompey : Civis obit, etc., — a pure gem of rhetoric without one flaw, and in my 
opinion not very far from historical truth. The other is the enumeration of 
Pompey's exploits, in the eighth Book (806-8) : 

" ' Quod si tarn sacro dignaris nomine saxum, 

Adde actus tantos, monimentaque maxima rerum: 
Adde truces Lepidi motus, Alpinaque bella, 
Armaque Sertori, revocato consule, victa, 
Et currus, quos egit eques: commercia tuta 
Gentibus, et pavidos Cilicas maris. Adde subactam 
Barbarium, gentesque vagas, et quidquid in Euro 
Regnorum Boreaque iacet. Die semper ab armis 
Civilem repetisse togam: ter curribus actis 
Contentum patriae multos donasse triumphos. 
Quis capit haec tumulus ? ' 

"The dream of Pompey in the seventh Book (vs. 7-44) is also a very noble 
piece of writing. I hardly know an instance in poetry of so great an effect pro- 
duced by means so simple. There is something irresistibly pathetic in the lines : 

" * Qualis erat populi facies clamorque faventis, 
Olim quum iuvenis primique aetate triumphi 
Post domitas gentes, quas torrens ambit Iberus, 
Et quaecumque fugax Sertorius impulit arma, 
Vespere pacato, pura venerabilis aeque 
Quam currus ornante toga, plaudente senatu, 
Sedit adhuc Romanus eques ; ' 

and something unspeakably solemn in the sudden turn which follows : 

" ' Ne rumpite somnos, 
Castrorum vigiles; nullas tuba verberet aures. 
Crastina dira quies, et imagine moesta diurna 
Undique funestas acies feret, undique bellum.' 

"When I consider that Lucan died at twenty-six, I cannot help ranking him 
among the most extraordinary men that ever lived." — Macaulay. 



book ix.] Lucan. 291 

255-293. 

Cato's speech to his soldiers, eager to give up the contest and 
return home. Its effect upon them. 

1. ducis, sc. Cato. — 2. pari voto, sc. to that of the Caesarians. 
Have you then been fighting not for liberty, but for Pompey, just as the 
Caesarians for Caesar? — 6. iam . . . tutum est, sc. since you will con- 
quer for yourselves and not for another. We. — 8. sine rege, sc. esse. 
pericli, sc. subeundi. — 12. regia Nili, i.e. Ptolemy. — 13. contulit, 
sc. in slaying Pompey ; Parthi . . . arcus, sc. in slaying Crassus. — 
14. munus, i.e. liberty, which he sarcastically calls the gift of Ptolemy. 
We. — 15. Quis, etc. No one of the enemy will believe that you fought 
bravely in the civil war; rather will he believe that you were the first to 
flee. We. — 18. meruistis, sc. because you did not fight against him. 
We. — 21. maiora, i.e. liberty. — 22. Rapiatur, sc. to Caesar. — 
24. Ptolemaei . . . munus, Bestow upon Caesar a greater gift than 
Ptolemy did. We. — 26. mercede, ablative of price. Sciet, etc., i.e. 
Slay me in order that these soldiers may know. We. — 27. cervicis, sc. 
meae. — 28. meritum parate, acquire merit for yourselves. — 31. si- 
mul, = simulae. efYetas ceras, the honeycombs with no young in them. 
— 32. miscent alas,y?y in swarms. — 34. Phrygii aeris, the cymbals, 
which were used in the worship of Cybele, a Phrygian goddess, increpat, 
sc. ubi or si. — ^8. divitias casae, i.e. his bees. 

511-523; 544-604. 

Arrival of Cato and his army at the temple of Jupiter Ammon. 
Description of its situation. Labienus urges Cato to consult the 
oracle respecting the issue of the war. Cato's speech in reply. The 
nobleness of his character. 

1. unum, i.e. which the Libyan tribes had in common, and near which 
dwell (habent) the Garamantes, a Libyan race. We. In the widest 
sense the name is applied to all the Libyan tribes inhabiting the oases in 
the Eastern part of the great desert, but in the stricter sense denotes the 
people of Phazania, a region South of the great Syrtis and forming by far 
the largest oasis in the great desert. Diet. Geog. — 4. Hammon, origi- 
nally an Ethiopian or Libyan divinity, whose worship spread over Egypt, a 
part of the Northern coast of Africa, and many parts of Greece. The most 
ancient seat of his worship was Meroe; and another and more famous one 
with a celebrated oracle was in the oasis of Ammonium in the Libyan 



292 Notes. [book ix. 

desert, where the ruins of the temple, whose walls were of hewn stone and 
covered with hieroglyphics, are still to be seen. The god was represented 
either in the form of a ram or as a human being with the head (or the 
horns only) of a ram. Diet. Geog. — 8. Indis, not Asiatics probably, but 
Ethiopians, who are called by Latin writers Indi because they were believed 
to have migrated from India, unus, the 07ily deity. — 9. violata, dese- 
cr cited. — 10. morum priorum, i.e. of the ancient simplicity and un- 
corrupt faith. Var. — II. Romano . . . auro, i.e. protects it from being 
profaned with gold after the manner of the Romans. Var. Cf. Persius, 
Sat. II. 

14. fores, sc. of the temple. — 15. nova fata, i.e. responses of the ora- 
cle. — 17. explorat, make trial of, test. — 18. de fama, i.e. the renown 
which the oracle had had from the most ancient times — whether true 
responses were given there. We. — 20. eventus, the issue of the war. 
T. "Lafoienus, a partisan of Caesar and a legatus under him in the Gallic 
campaigns in B.C. 58 and in 54-50 ; the last two years before the civil war 
next in command to Caesar, and in B.C. 50 in command of Cisalpine Gaul 
in Caesar's absence. On the breaking out of civil war he went over to the 
other party. After the battle of Pharsalus he went to Africa, and was an 
officer under Scipio. After that of Thapsus he fled to Spain and fell in 
the battle Munda, B.C. 46. — 21. ora = or acuta. — 23. datos, sc. by fate. 
— 24. arcana, /^fr secret decrees. — 29. patriae • . . mores, explained 
by the next two lines. See Lex. s. Mos., Ill, B. — 31. perit, for periit, i.e. 
has been fought by us in vain, and tyrants are to hold sway. — 33. exem- 
plar, sc. which we ought to imitate. Wr.; with honesti — quid nobis sit 
agendimi. We. — 35. dignas adytis, i.e. worthy to be uttered by the 
oracle. — 37. regna, i.e. the tyranny of one man. — 38. an . . . longa, 
etc. The correct text of this verse is doubtful. The Ms. reading is : ait 
sit vita nihil, sed longa m differ at aetas. Cf. I, 457. an . . . aetas, i.e. 
tttrum differ at, longa an brevis sit aetas. We. — 41. crescat, is made 
greater; i.e. zvhether right be never made more right, by success. Pr. — 
43. Haeremus, depe?id upon, are most closely joined to. We. templo 
tacente, equivalent to a concessive clause. — 44. sponte, often used 
with a genitive by Lucan and the later poets. — 45. semel, once for all. 
nascentibns, at our birth. — 46. qnidquid . . . licet, sc. that we must 
die. We. Cf. v. 54. arenas, sc. of Libya. — 47. mersitque, nor hidden. 
hoc pnlvere, i.e. the sand of this desert. 

" Nothing in all Latin poetry reaches a higher pitch of ethical sublimity than 
the reply of Cato to Labienus, when entreated to consult the oracle of Jupiter 
Ammon. Its sentiments and others similar scattered throughout the* poem 
redeem it from the charge of wanton disbelief and show a largeness of soul that 
only needed experience to make it truly great." CRUTTWELL. 



book ix.] Lucan. 293 

55. servata fide, sc. by not making inquiry of it. — 56. populis, sc. 
Orientalibus ; a dative. — 57. anlieli . . . ora, i.e. anhelum os gerentem. — 
59. cervice, i.e. lectica. — 60. que for neque, after the usage of Lucan. 
— 62. indiga laticis, thirsting for water. — 65. quidquid . . . fuit, 
i.e. the virtue of Cato surpassed that of all our ancestors, who were in- 
debted greatly for their renown to fortune. We. — 70. frangere . . . 
Iugurthae, an allusion to Marius' triumph over Jugurtha. — 73. cervice 
soluta, sc. from the yoke of tyranny, i.e. with freedom recovered. — 
74. factura deum, Cf. the noble and beautiful delineation of Cato's 
character in Book II, 380-391 : 

" Hi mores, haec duri immota Catonis 
Secta fuit : servare modum, finemque tenere, 
Naturamque sequi, patriaeque impendere vitam; 
Nee sibi, sed toti genitum se credere mundo. 
Huic epulae, vicisse famem : magnique penates, 
Submovisse hiemem tecto : pretiosaque vestis, 
Hirtam membra super Romani more Quiritis 
Induxisse togam : Venerisque huic maximus usus, 
Progenies ; Urbi pater est, Urbique maritus : 
Iustitiae cultor, rigidi servator honesti : 
In commune bonus : nullosque Catonis in actus 
Subrepsit partemque tulit sibi nata voluptas." 



APPENDIX. 



I. The Metres of Catullus. 

I. Elegiac Distich. A. 363; G. 762; H. 615. In fifty-two poems : 

Carm. 65-116. 

" Ovid's rules, such as the close of a thought with a couplet, the avoidance 
of elision, especially in the latter half both of the hexameter and the pentameter, 
the preponderance of dactyls, the ending of the couplet with a dissyllable, which 
must be either noun or verb, or the like, were not observed by Catullus." Sn. 

II. Phalaecian Hendecasyllable. A. 371, 11; G. 765 ; H. 629, I. 
The first foot is usually a spondee, sometimes a trochee or iambus. The 
tribrach occurs once (C. 55, 10). In the second foot a spondee is allowed 
to alternate more or less regularly with the usual dactyl. In forty poems : 
Carm. 1-3, 5-7, 9, 10, 12-16, 21, 23, 24, 26-28, 32, 33, 35, 36, 38, 40-43, 

45-5°> 53-53. 

The Phalaecian has no fixed caesura. The most common is that after 
the arsis of the second foot, or after the arsis of the third foot. 

" Four lyrical metres were elaborated by Catullus and thus made popular, — 
the hendecasyllabic, the pure iambic, the scazon, and the glyconic, — and in 
them he was not surpassed by any later poet. The greater part of his lyrics 
were written in the hendecasyllable. The freedom of cadence in this measure, 
the varied caesura and the licenses in the first foot give the charm of irregular 
beauty, so sweet in itself and so rare in Latin poetry; and the rhythm lends 
itself with equal ease to playful humor, fierce satire, and tender affection. In 
the management of the scazon he was also very skilful." Es. 

III. Iambic Verse. In twelve poems. 

1. Iambic Trimeter or Senarins. A. 365; G. 754; H. 622. In 
Carm. 4, 29, 52. In these the pure iambic foot alone is used, with the 
exception of C. 52, vs. 2, 3, both of which begin with a spondee. In C. 
4 and 29 the coincidence of verbal and metrical accent is remarkable. 

2. Choliambus or Scazon. A. 365, c; G. 755; H. 622, 4. It differs 
from the ordinary trimeter by having always a spondee or a trochee in the 
sixth foot, and an iambus in the fifth. In eight poems: Carm. 8, 22, 31, 
37, 39, 44, 59, 60. The pure scheme occurs only thirteen times. In 
seventy-four verses a spondee occurs in both the first and third places, in 



296 Appendix. 

twenty-nine in the first place, and in thirteen in the third place. A tribrach 
is found once in the second place, and once the third foot is a dactyl. 

3. Iambic Tetrameter Catalectic. A. 366, a; G. 757; H. 625, note. 
In Carm. 25. Of the thirteen verses the iambus is preserved pure through- 
out in six. The other seven have a spondee in the first place, and two of 
them a spondee in the fifth place. 

IV. Glyconeo-Pherecratean. A. 371, 1,4, 12; 373; G. 764, 765; 
H. 627; 629, II. In Carm. 17, 34, 61. 

In Carm. 34, a stanza of four verses: the first three Glyconic; the 
fourth Pherecratean. In Carm. 61, a stanza of five verses: the first four 
Glyconic; the fifth Pherecratean. In Carm. 17, a stanza of two verses: 
the first Glyconic; the second Pherecratean — though generally printed as 
one long line. 

The Glyconic : a trochee or spondee followed by a dactyl and a cretic. 
The Pherecratean : a dactyl between two dissyllabic feet — either trochees 
or spondees — with an iambus once in the first foot, and a spondee once 
in the second foot. In Carm. 34 and 61 the Glyconic is sometimes hyper- 
metrical. 

V. Sapphic and Adonic. A. 371, 3 and 7; G. 778, VI; H. 628,1 
and VI. In Carm. n and 51. Catullus allows the trochee in the second 
foot, the elision of the last syllable before the beginning of the following 
verse, the breaking up of a word at the end of the third verse, so as to 
extend into the Adonic, the second foot to end a word, a monosyllable 
at the end of the verse, and the caesura after the fifth or sixth syllable 
indifferently. 

VI. Greater Asclepiadean. A. 371, 6; G. 770; H. 628, V. In 

Carm. 30. The verse consists of a dissyllabic base (a spondee, except in 

v. 9, where it is a trochee) followed by three choriambi, and ending with 

two short syllables. 

" The sapphic and the choriambic metres were introduced from the Greek by 
Catullus, but in the use of them he closely followed throughout the Greek models 
(e.g. in admitting the trochee into the second place, and th@ frequent hypermeter 
as well as the lax caesura), and did not attain the excellence to which they were 
afterwards brought by Horace. With Catullus a modified synapheia runs through- 
out the stanza, such that the last syllable of the line may be indifferently long or 
short before a consonant, but a vowel with or without m is invariably elided 
before another vowel at the beginning of the next line." 

VII. Dactylic Hexameter. In Carm. 62 and 64. The use of the 
spondee in the fifth place is frequent. 

" The hexameters of Catullus display a marvellous improvement on those 
of Ennius and Lucretius, and have a peculiar sweetness and charm, but are 



Appendix, 297 



inferior to those of Virgil in correctness and flow. Their beauty is rather that 
of single lines than of a complex system. In Carm. 64, and especially in Carm. 
62, he shows himself as great a master of the full-toned and stately hex- 
ameter as in his smaller poems he had proved his command of the lighter 
forms of verse ; and he paved the way for the smoother cadences and statelier 
measures of Virgil. Vet the recurrence, occasionally, of one monotonous ca- 
dence, line after line, gives an air of sameness, which might almost be called 
inartistic. Sometimes it is relieved by the spondaic endings, which he and other 
poets of his school for a time made popular, and sometimes by verses of a freer 
and more luxuriant rhythm. Apparently to avoid the irregularities of older 
poets, he made the accent (as a rule) agree with the ictus in the last three feet 
of the line, thus giving his verses greater uniformity but producing a monotonous 
effect. Alliteration is also quite frequent.' 

VIII. Metre of the Attis. In Car 711. 63 ; the only specimen of this 
metre in the Latin language. It consists in theory of two iambic or ana- 
creontic dimeters, of which the first is catalectic, and the second brachycata- 
lectic. There are thus six feet, which are usually anapaest, iambic, bacchic, 
anapaest, tribrach, iambic, but with some variations. Roby, School Latin 
Gram. 934 ; G. 774. See also Ellis' Commentary on Catullus : Prolego- 
mena, p. xxxvii; Simpson's Catullus: Appendix, p. 175. 

" In poetry, the Ciceronian period was distinguished from the Ante-classical 
Age, not so much by the mere imitation of Greek models as by the minute care 
with which the rules and niceties of Greek diction, grammar, and metre were 
studied and applied, and by a growing perception of the predominant import- 
ance of form in art. Catullus was moulded by this spirit and tendency, and was 
its best representative, as the finish of all his finest poems testify. His metres 
convey the idea of a wild freedom under a careful and masked regularity ; and 
while he is less artificial he is more artistic than any of his successors. He 
exhibits a sense of freedom working by rule, but not dominated by it, not attained 
by any other poet." Es. 



Tibullus, Propertius, and Ovid in all his poems except the Metamor- 
phoses, use the elegiac distich. 



II. Editions, Commentaries, and other Works cited or con- 
sulted in the Preparation of the Notes. 

CATULLUS. 

Catvlli Veronensis Liber Recognovit apparatvm criticvm prolegomena 
appendices addidit R. Ellis Oxonii MDCCCLXVii. 

A Commentary on Catullus by Robinson Ellis, Oxford MDCCCLXXVI. 

Catvlli Veronensis Liber Lvdovicvs Schwabivs Recognovit Gissae MDCCC- 
LXVI. 

Catulli Veronensis Liber. Recensuit Aemilius Baehrens. Lipsiae MDCCC- 
LXXVI. 



298 Appendix. 

Criticisms and Elucidations of Catullus by H. A. J. Munro Cambridge 
and London, 1878. 

C. Valerius Catullus ex editione F. G. Doeringii cui suas et aliorum adno- 
tationes adiecit J. Naudet, Parisiis MDCCCXXVI. 

Select Poems of Catullus Edited, with Introductions, Notes, and Appen- 
dices, by F. P. Simpson, London, 1879. 

The Poems of Valerius Catullus, translated into English verse. With Life 
of the Poet, Excursus, and Illustrative Notes. By James Cranstoun, Edinburgh, 
1867. 

The Poems of Catullus, translated into English verse. With an Introduc- 
tion and Notes. By Theodore Martin. Edinburgh and London. MDCCCLXin. 

LUCRETIUS. 

T. Lucreti Cari De Rerum Natura Libri Sex With Notes by H. A. J. 
Munro Third Edition Cambridge England 1873 

T. Lucretii Cari De Rerum Natura Libri Sex Ex editione Gilberti Wake- 
fieldi cum notis et interpretatione in usum Delphini variis lectionibus notis 
Variorum recensu editionum et codicum et indice locupletissimo accurate 
recensiti. Londini, 1823. 

T. Lucreti Cari De Rerum Natura Libri Sex. C. Lachmannus Recensuit 
et Emendavit. Editio altera Berolini, MDCCCLIII. 

C. Lachmanni in T. Lucretii Cari De Rerum Natura Libros Commentarius 
tertium editus, Berolini, MDCCCLXXI. 

Syntaxis Lucretianae Lineamenta Scripsit T. G. Holtze, Lipsiae, 1868. 

TIBULLUS. 

Albii Tibulli Libri Quattuor. Recognovit A. Rossbach. Lipsiae, MDCCCLXVI. 

Albii Tibulli Opera Omnia ex editione I. G. Huschkii cum notis et inter- 
pretatione in usum Delphini variis lectionibus notis Variorum recensu edi- 
tionum et codicum et indice locupletissimo accurate recensita. Londini, 1822. 

Elegiac Extracts from Tibullus and Ovid, With English Introductions and 
Notes. By W. Ramsay, London, MDCCCXL. 

Albii Tibvlli Carmina Libri Tres Cvm Libro Qvarto Svlpiciae et aliorvm 
Chr. G. Heynii nvnc avcta notis et observationibvs Ern. Car. Frid. Wvnder- 
lichii. Lipsiae, MDCCCXVTI. 

Albii Tibulli Carmina Ex Recensione Car. Lachmanni Passim Mutata Ex- 
plicuit L. Dissenius Gottingae, MDCCCXXXV. 

The Elegies of Albius Tibullus translated into English verse, With Life of 
the Poet and Illustrative Notes By James Cranstoun, Edinburgh and London, 
MDCCCLXXII. 

PROPERTIUS. 

Sex. Propertii Elegiae. Edidit Henricus Keil. Lipsiae, MDCCCLXVii. 
Sex. Propertii Elegiarum Libri IV. Recensuit A. Palmer. Londinii, Dub- 
lfni: 1S80. 



Appendix. 299 



The Elegies of Propertius, With English Notes, By F. A. Paley. Second 
Edition. London and Cambridge, MDCCCLXXII. 

Sex. Aurelii Propertii Elegiarum Libri Quattuor. Codicibus partim denuo 
collatis, partim nunc primum excussis recensuit, etc., Quaestionum Proper- 
tianarum libris tribus et commentariis illustravit G. Ad. B. Hertzberg. Halis, 
MDCCCXLIII. 

Select Elegies of Propertius Edited with Introduction, Notes, and Appen- 
dices By J. P. Postgate. London, 1881. 

The Elegies of Sextus Propertius translated into English verse, With Life 
of the Poet and Illustrative Notes By James Cranstoun, Edinburgh and Lon- 
don, MDCCCLXXV. 

Verse Translations from Propertius, Book V. With a revised Latin Text, 
and Brief English Notes. By F. A. Paley. Cambridge and London, 1866. 

OVID. 

P. Ovidius Naso Ex Recognitione Rudolphi Merkelii. Lipsiae, MDCCCLX. 

P. Ovidii Nasonis Heroides XIV. Edited by A. Palmer. London, Cam- 
bridge, and Dublin, 1874. 

P. Ovidii Nasonis Heroidum Epistulae XIII Edited with Notes and In- 
dices by E. S. Shuckburgh. . London, 1879. 

Ovid's Fasti ; With Introduction, Notes, and Excursus, by Thomas Keight- 
ley. London, 1848. 

P. Ovidii Nasonis Fastorum Libri Sex. With English Notes, By F. A. 
Paley. London, 1869. 

P. Ovidii Nasonis Fastorum Libri Sex. Zum Schul — und Privatgebrauch 
herausgegeben und mit erklarenden anmerkungen und einem namenregister 
versehen von M. Julius Conrad. Leipzig, 1831. 

The Fasti of Ovid Edited with Notes and Indices by G. H. Hallam. Lon- 
don, 1881. 

Ovid : Selections for the Use of Schools With Introductions and Notes 
and an Appendix on the Roman Calendar by W. Ramsay. Edited by G. G. 
Ramsay. Oxford, MDCCCLXX. 

LUCAN. 

M. Annaei Lucani Pharsalia cum indice rerum. Ad optimorum librorum 
fidem accurate edita. Editio C. Tauchnitii stereotypa novis chartis impressa. 
Lipsiae, 1878. 

Marci Annaei Lucani Pharsalia cum notis selectis quibus varias lectiones 
Mss. nunc primum collatorum, dissertationem de spuriis et male suspectis 
Lucani versibus, Scholiastas ineditos, adnotationem suam, nee non indices 
locupletissimos addidit C. F. Weber. Lipsiae, MDCCCXXI. 

M. Annaei Lucani Pharsaliae Libri X. Ad meliorum librorum fidem re- 
censuit scholiisque interpretatus est et indicem adiecit C. H. Weise. Quedlin- 
burgi et Lipsiae, 1835. 



300 Appendix. 



M. Annaeus Lucanus De Bello Civili, cum Hug : Grotii, Farnabii notis in- 
tegris et Variorum Selectis. Accurante Corn : Schrevelio. Lugd. Batav. 1669. 

M. Annaei Lucani Pharsalia Libri Decern. Cum Scholiaste, hucusque in- 
edito, et notis integris H. Grotii, etc. Et excerptis O. Vincentini, aliorumque. 
Nee non T. Maji supplements aliorumque observationibus. Curante F. Ouden- 
dorpio. Lugd. Batav. 1728. 

M. Annaei Lucani Pharsaliae Liber Primus Edited with English Introduc- 
tion and Notes by W. E. Heitland and C. E. Haskins. London and Cambridge, 
1875. 



Selections from the less known Latin Poets by North Pinder. Oxford, 
MDCCCLXIX. [Includes Catullus, Tibullus, Propertius, Ovid, and Lucan, with 
many others.] 

Selections from Catullus, Tibullus, and Propertius. With English Notes. 
By A. H. Wratislaw and F. N. Sutton. London, 1869. 

The Roman Poets of the Republic By W. Y. Sellar. New edition, revised 
and enlarged. Oxford, MDCCCLXXXI. 

A History of Roman Literature By W. S. Teuffel. Translated by W. 
Wagner. London and Cambridge, 1873. 

A History of Roman Literature : From the earliest period to the death of 
Marcus Aurelius. By C. T. Cruttwell. London, 1877. 

Miscellaneous Writings of John Conington, late Corpus Professor of Latin 
in the University of Oxford. Vol. 1. London, 1872. 



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